The House of Representatives, on Thursday, passed a bill to revert to the old National Anthem. The process was done in the green chamber amid opposition from lawmakers across party lines. The bill, sponsored by the House Leader Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo) and titled: “Act to Provide for the National Anthem of Nigeria, and for Matters Related,” was given a speedy passage during plenary.
The manner of passage of the bill in the House and the Senate gives the impression of vested interest in the legislation. President Bola Tinubu has in the past advocated the adoption of the old National Anthem in place of the current anthem.
In 2011, Mr Tinubu, as the leader of one of the main opposition parties, called for the adoption of the anthem in place of the current one. “Abandoning the post-independence anthem, which arguably evoked a strong spirit of patriotism and brotherliness, to compose a very drab replacement, is far less inspirational,” Mr Tinubu said during a speech at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.
During the presidential campaign, Mr Tinubu also expressed hope to return to the old anthem. He will mark a year in office on Wednesday. Although the president has ordered a low-key celebration, however, this old anthem may provide a symbolic win. The 2014 National Conference also recommended the adoption of the old anthem. The conference regarded the old anthem as a better symbol of unity, peace and prosperity.
The House commenced Thursday’s session around 11:15 a.m. but later dissolved into executive session that lasted about 40 minutes. It is unclear what the lawmakers discussed behind closed doors though sources said it was not unconnected with the issue of the anthem.
Upon resumption, the lawmakers continued legislative activities, but the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu, later introduced a supplementary order which had only the Anthem Bill.
Following the introduction of the bill, Mr Ihonvbere led the debate on its general principle. He said the current anthem lacks the rigour of the old.
“I have taken time to look at the old anthem and the new, and as a Nigerian who has been involved in the struggle to make Nigeria a better place either as a student to the student union movement including the “Ali must go” movement or as a university teacher; having been secretary, vice chairman and chairman of ASUU or as a pro-democracy activist who spent twelve and a half years in self-exile, I believe that the old anthem, encompasses, contains, exudes the kind of energy, resourcefulness and a sense of vision that I believe is good for Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking on the bill, the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, countered the submission of the leader, stating that the old anthem is a symbol of the past. He also highlighted the fact that it was written by Lillian Jean Williams and composed by Frances Berda, who he described as a “symbol of colonialism”.
“While it is our function to make laws, but for every law there must be a spirit to it. If we are asked what is the essence of this law?” Mr Chinda, a lawmaker from Rivers State, said.
He said there must be a “clear cause” to make law, and that the lawmakers will be taking “ourselves back” by passing the bill to revert to the old National Anthem.
“What value will it add to us as a nation? I stand to oppose it. I asked the leader to withdraw the bill,” he said. Ahmad Satomi (APC, Borno) also spoke against the bill by calling into question the usefulness of the bill to hunger and insecurity.
“Let’s do something that will bring development in the eyes of the international community. Let us think of something that will bring progress,” he said.
