Some Nigerians including ogbonge Nigerian activist Aisha Yesuf still dey protest di change of di old Nigerian national anthem wey President Bola Tinubu sign into law last week .
Dis na afta President Tinubu revert back to Nigeria old national anthem and drop di one wey military goment approve for 1978.
Dis new anthem, wey start wit “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” na Lillian Jean Williams write am for 1959 and Frances Berda compose am.
President Tinubu say di new anthem symbolize Nigeria diversity, e tok dis one as im clock one year for for office.
But di Nigerian leader decision pepper some kontri pipo body including Madam Yesuf wey openly condemn di president move.
For one of her videos wey don go viral, Madam Yesuf dare pipo wey dey call for her ‘arrest’ sake of say she bin siddon wen dem play di new anthem for event wey she bin attend.
She no be di only popular pesin wey chook mouth for di mata.
Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili too bin post for X say she no go ever sing di new-old anthem.
“I want let everybody know say me, Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili no go sing di Nigerian National Anthem if dem ask me to sing:”
Afta she tok her mind finish she later come post di words of “Arise O Compatriots” – di anthem wey don dey for di past 46 years.
Based on dia actions, many pipo dey ask weda na offense to siddon wen dem play di national anthem or to close mouth wen di anthem dey.
‘Goment get power to sanction anybody wey disrespect national symbols’
‘’According to section 24 of di Constitution of Nigeria as amended, na di duty of citizens to respect national symbols like di Flag, National Anthem, and National pledge’’. Barrister Kabiru Bala tell BBC Pidgin.
‘’Based on dat law, citizens dey expected to stand up to recognise national symbols either by singing or maintaining decorum if dem siddon’’. Bala add put.
For now, e no dey clear wetin di consequence go be for disobeying di anthem becos na new law and dem neva make di punishment public.
But Barrister Bala say ‘’goment get power to sanction anybody wey disrespect national symbols, just like dem do for national currency, wey also be national symbol’’.
Nigeria national anthem from 1978–2024. Arise, O Compatriots, first stanza:
“Arise, O Compatriots,
Nigeria’s call obey.
To serve our fatherland.
With love and strength and faith.
The labour of our heroes past, shall never be in vain.
To serve with heart and might.
One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.”.
Nigeria new old-anthem wey we use from 1960-1978, re-adopted 2024. Nigeria, We Hail Thee, first stanza:
“Nigeria we hail thee.
Our own dear native land.
Though tribes and tongue may differ.
In brotherhood we stand.
Nigerians all, are proud to serve.
Our sovereign motherland.”
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