ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, has endorsed the decision to revert to Nigeria’s old national anthem, describing the move as long overdue.
This comes after the National Anthem Bill was assented to, shifting from “Arise, O Compatriots” back to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
Ozekhome also urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to consider a comprehensive rebranding of the nation, including changing Nigeria’s name and national flag.
He praised the government’s decision to revert to the old anthem, labeling it a significant and positive development.
Reflecting on the National Conference of 2014, Ozekhome recalled: “I, as a humble and patriotic pan-Nigerian, have always looked at these issues from the Nigerian perspective – how we can make our country better than it is now.
“Which was why, Mr. President, sir, as far back as Wednesday, July 2, 2014 – 10 years ago – at the plenary session of the National Conference, I moved the motion for the change of our national anthem back to the one of 1960, on our independence.
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“That motion was hotly debated by the 492 delegates at the national confab drawn from every spectrum of the Nigerian society and it was carried. And indeed nostalgically, the whole plenary session stood up and sang the old national anthem.”
In a viral video on Wednesday, Ozekhome reiterated his support for the change, stating: “So, bringing it back is well overdue. It has better lyrics in context and content – like the Senate President said. It is better than the other one.”
He emphasized the importance of recognizing the contributions of the 492 delegates at the national conference and its leaders.
“Indeed, I wrote a book titled, ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ and it was 421 pages. It was launched at that National Conference just before it ended in 2014. My arguments are on pages 268 to 271. So, it didn’t start together.
“I think that when we finally get to Canaanland, this body should give some recognition and appreciation to the National Conference of 2014 chaired by the late Justice Legbo Kutigi with Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi as the deputy.”
Ozekhome also called for the restoration of the old national flag and a change in the country’s name.
He argued, “The present green and white Nigerian flag is too bland. It’s not just in terms of lacking in colors. It is not inspirational – compare it to that of the US with its tribes and stars representing the fifty states.
“If you look at the flag of South Africa or the UK, you’ll see what I mean. The older flag has the rising sun in the center which shoots to all the directions of Nigeria – North, South, East and West. Look at the Norfolk flag and the AU.”
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He further suggested renaming Nigeria, stating, “At that conference, I also moved that we change the name of Nigeria which appears to be a burden because of the circumstances it came into being January 8, 1878, when Flora Shaw gave her the name ‘Nigeria’ named after ‘Niger Area’.
“My proposal was for the flag change and the name Nigeria to Airegen (spelt backwards) but both were shut down and the one of the national anthem carried.”
The readoption of the old anthem has sparked diverse reactions among Nigerians. Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has publicly vowed not to revert to the old anthem.
The “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” anthem, used from 1960 until it was replaced by “Arise, O Compatriots” in 1978, was written by Lilian Jean Williams in 1959, with music composed by Frances Berda. The anthem’s lyrics evoke a sense of national pride and unity.