Nigerians Outraged Over Anthem Change

Outrage has erupted among Nigerians following President Bola Tinubu's decision to revert to the country's old national anthem, a move made with minimal public consultation.

On Wednesday, President Tinubu signed into law a bill reinstating the anthem "Nigeria, We Hail Thee," which was originally written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda. This anthem had been replaced by a military government in 1978 with "Arise, O Compatriots."

President Tinubu, speaking on his first anniversary in office, emphasized that the old anthem symbolizes Nigeria's diversity. However, the timing of this change has been widely criticized. Many Nigerians are grappling with severe issues such as insecurity, rising inflation, and a foreign exchange crisis, leading to questions about the government's priorities.

On social media platform X, user @Gospel_rxx expressed frustration: “A new national anthem is the priority for Tinubu & Co at a time like this, When our people can't eat, insecurity is rife & life is hell? What a sordid joke!! Lets see how they implement it...”

Another user, Fola Folayan, condemned the decision, highlighting the irony of replacing an anthem written by Nigerians with one penned by colonizers: “Changing the Nigerian national anthem written by a Nigerian, to the song written by colonizers is a stupid decision and it's shameful that nobody in the National Assembly thought to stand against it.”

Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili declared on X that she would never sing the re-adopted anthem, stating she would continue to sing "Arise, O Compatriots," the anthem used for the past 46 years.

The debate has stirred further discussion about national identity. Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad noted the potential for broader changes: “After the change of our national anthem, some people are now calling for the name Nigeria and the national flag to be changed as well. What do you think? Should we keep the name Nigeria?”

Despite the backlash, Tahir Mongunu, chairman of the parliamentary committee behind the bill, defended the decision as "apt, timely and important," arguing it would inspire patriotism and unity. Kano resident Habu Shamsu echoed this sentiment, telling the BBC he found the old anthem more encompassing and appreciated its flow.

As the controversy continues to unfold, the anthem change remains a polarizing issue in Nigeria, reflecting deeper tensions and concerns about the nation's direction and leadership.

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