Academy calls out NASS on national anthem bill

The National Academy of Letters denounces the hasty enactment of the national anthem bill into law.

NAL lamented that the National Assembly failed to put the needs of their constituents first, despite claims of representing their interests.

On 23 May 2024, the National Assembly passed a controversial bill to relinquish “Arise, O Compatriots” replacing it with “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”. The bill was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on 29 May 2024.

This was discussed during its virtual roundtable on Nigeria’s national anthem in a press release obtained by our correspondent on Monday.

Professor of Applied Communication, University of Ibadan, Ayo Ojebode expressed that changing the national anthem shouldn’t have been a priority and that what matters was how people can define themselves, and the values they uphold, rather than the lyrics.

“It is important the nation evolve a sense of value and identity and oneness before changing anthems,” Ojebode said.

Professor of Philosophy, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Maduabuchi Dukor, stated that the anthem should go beyond symbolism and has to be the reality and ideal of the people as Nigeria was no longer in the post-colonial era.

“Being Africans, we value the past, present and future. The national anthem has to be the collective consciousness of the people and be patriotic. It must be an inspirational mantra that will define our ideal in this millennial information age,” Dukor said.

Professor Funmilayo Olubode-Sawe, an expert in Applied Linguistics and Terminology at the Federal University of Technology, expressed her disappointment and frustration with the country’s leaders, who she believes prioritize their own interests while hypocritically promoting a new national anthem that contradicts their actions.

“Our leaders are selfish and they are not working in the people’s interests. We need to start a value reorientation and build a nation where no man is oppressed,” she said.

Professor Ebun Oduwole emphasized that a national anthem should capture the essence of a nation’s culture, history, and values, instilling hope, patriotism, and a strong sense of identity in its citizens.

“It is about the content which should define people’s identity. This is why the anthem of the nation should be well respected because it showcases what everybody thinks about the country and be able to unify us,” she said.