Tinubu, Lawmakers Flayed Over Reinstatement Of Old National Anthem

President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly are facing intense criticism over the newly enacted law reinstating the old National Anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

This decision has sparked controversy, particularly given the tumultuous session in the House of Representatives on May 23, when the bill was passed.

Despite significant opposition from concerned citizens, the Senate also rushed the bill on Tuesday.

Amid the heated debate, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, urged the National Assembly on Monday to reconsider the bill. He argued that changes to the National Anthem should not be made solely through legislative debate.

Nevertheless, President Tinubu signed the bill into law on Wednesday, as announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. This move has left many Nigerians questioning the rationale behind abandoning “Arise, O Compatriots,” which has been the anthem since 1978.

The swift passage of the bill through both houses of the National Assembly has further fueled concerns.

Following the news of Tinubu’s approval, numerous Nigerians took to social media to voice their discontent. Many criticized the decision as a misplaced priority, especially in light of the nation’s ongoing economic and security challenges.

Here are some of the reactions from X as compiled by GWG.ng:

@Imbamiodunlami: Now billions of Naira will be spent in the name of training Nigerians to learn and sing the anthem.

@iam_damayor: Congratulations Nigerians, we now have a new National Anthem. When you want to buy anything, just recite it and you get the 2015 price of that goods/service.

@KennyNuga: Misplaced priority, we need laws mandating all vehicles to shift off the road when an Ambulance is approaching. We need laws that criminalize bullying in our institutions.

@RealQueenBee: This will now be an achievement for the Tinubu administration, reverting back to the colonial anthem.

@AtaPeter: A mere waste of time and a distraction strategy. The question is will the change in the national anthem increase the IGR or make the current economic mess or the high level of insecurity disappear???.

@amaobiee: The speed with which this bill was passed and signed shows that something is behind it.

@FridaySpotOn: Whoever casts a spell on our “leaders” to always prioritize the unimportant over the necessities should please lose them. Misplaced priority! How will the new Anthem address the myriad of problems bedevilling our country?

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