The president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has continued his support for.a reversal to the old national anthem. This time, he said that maintaining the old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” could have potentially averted the current banditry and insecurity ravaging the country.
The senate president stated this on Tuesday when he visited the Nigeria Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies in Abuja.
He expressed his belief that the reintroduction of the anthem, which replaced “Arise, O Compatriots,” will promote greater unity and societal cohesion in Nigeria.
He defended the anthem against criticism of colonialism, citing the extensive national and global consultations that informed its selection by a Nigerian-led panel in 1959.
Akpabio stated, “If we had kept the old anthem, there won’t be banditry today in Nigeria.”
The reintroduced national anthem has been subjected to criticisms by many Nigerians, with some saying it is not a priority and wondered why the president thinks that’s top on the list of issues facing the country.
The national assembly within 6 days, passed the bill for a return the old anthem and the president gave his assent immediately.
