•Nigerians are looking up to us for more fundamental issues that will cause proper change — Chinda
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed through the first, second and third readings, a bill seeking to revert the Nigeria’s National Anthem from ‘Arise O Compatriots’ to ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’ used during the post-independence period from 1960 to 1978.
The bill which was listed on the Supplementary Order Paper alongside the Electoral Act (Amendment), bill, was sponsored by the Majority Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere.
However, the House after an elongated debate on the bill, stepped down the debate on the Electoral
The bill, sought to among other provisions stipulate that the second stanza of the ‘Arise O Compatriots’ anthem shall be formally recognised as the national prayer to be recited at all state functions.
Furthermore, the bill makes it mandatory for all Primary and Secondary Schools to incorporate the new National Anthem as part of civic education and organise pupils and students to learn it.
While frowning at the reasons advanced by the sponsor of the bill, Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda argued that the proposed old national anthem has no direct impact on the citizens’ well-being and national development.
He said: “If we ask ourselves what is the essence of a national anthem, I will say it represents the tradition, history, and beliefs of a nation and its people.
“It helps evoke feelings of patriotism among the citizenry and reminds them of their nation’s glory, beauty and rich heritage.
“The question is, what does this old national anthem remind us of? What is the history behind the old national anthem? Why did we go for a national anthem?
“It was because we wanted to loose ourselves from that colonial ties and the country set up a Committee, to look at a new national anthem. Five people were picked to put their heads together and that gives our national anthem today, made by Nigerians, composed by Nigerians and the old national anthem was authored by Lilian James Williams and composed by Francis Bender, both of them Briton.
“After our independence, we tried as much as possible to Nigerianize our actions.
“Today we are taking ourselves back to the old National Anthem incidentally is this bill important at the particular time in our national lives?
“What value will it add to us as a nation? You see that these questions need to be answered.
“Nigerians are looking up to us for more fundamental issues that will cause proper change.
“Prof took us to history days ….what is the history we are talking about to make, so I stand as a Nigerian to say no to this bill.
“I pray that we look it critically and urge the sponsor and the House leader to withdraw this bill. What is the history that we are about to make?”
On his part, Chairman, National Security and Intelligence, Hon. Ahmad Satomi who expressed reservation at the bill, maintained that Nigerians develop rather than change of National Anthem.
He said: “Nigerians are looking up to us regarding this bill because many of us in our early 40s don’t know this national anthem. I don’t know how this old national anthem affects the well-being of the common man.
“How will it help the government to stop hunger, banditry, or improve security? Let’s do what is beneficial to the common man and this Honourable chamber standing for the common man in Nigeria.
“People are discussing nanotechnology and the internet of things and we are discussing the national anthem. There is a say that countries that depend on prayers always depend on countries that do things,” he observed.
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