Nigeria’s former Minister of Education and co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, has vowed she would never sing the newly adopted national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
Recall that President Bola Tinubu recently gave his assent to the National Anthem Bill 2024, reverting the country to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, revealed this during a joint session of the National Assembly marking the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria’s 4th Republic.
Akpabio said the aim of the meeting was to launch the new national anthem. He explained that the President would not be making a speech because he had to leave to launch the Abuja metro line.
Previously, the Senate and the House of Representatives had passed the bill at separate sittings.
Meanwhile, Ezekwesili in a recent statement posted on her X account revealed that she cannot discard the old National Anthem.
She stated that no one can suppress her right to dissent an unpalatable “law” that is abhorrent to all that is of good conscience in Nigeria.
She wrote: “Let it be known to all and sundry that I, Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili shall whenever asked to sing the Nigerian National Anthem sing:
“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.
“Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause
Guide our leader’s right
Help our youth the truth to know
In love and honesty to grow
And living just and true
Great lofty heights attain
To build a nation where peace and justice reign.
“This is my own National Anthem and let it be known that no one can suppress my right to dissent an obnoxious “law” that is repugnant to all that is of good conscience in Nigeria.
“Whatever else is #NotMyNationalAnthem.”