The Presidency has dismissed as misleading a viral video showing President Bola Tinubu and members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) reciting Nigeria’s former national anthem, insisting that the footage predates the country’s return to the old anthem and was not recorded recently.
The video, which has been widely circulated on social media, sparked criticism after it appeared to show President Tinubu, ministers and other top government officials singing “Arise, O Compatriots”, despite the Federal Government’s reintroduction of “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the country’s official national anthem on May 29, 2024.
Reacting to the controversy, the President’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, said the footage was taken during a Federal Executive Council meeting held in 2023 or early 2024, before the anthem was officially changed.
According to him, details visible in the video clearly show it could not have been recorded recently.
“This video has Dr. Iziaq Salako as the Hon. Minister of State for Environment at the 0:22 minutes. He was later reassigned to the Ministry of Health in October 2024,” Olusegun said.
He also pointed to another indicator, noting that the now-defunct Ministry of Niger Delta still appeared in the footage.
“It also listed the HM, Ministry of Niger Delta, a ministry that was dissolved in October 2024.”
Reiterating that the restored national anthem only became effective on May 29, 2024, Olusegun concluded that the circulating footage was recorded before the policy took effect.
“The new national anthem became official on May 29th, 2024.
“Verdict: This video was from a 2023/2024 FEC meeting.”
The presidential aide also criticised those circulating the clip as recent, accusing them of promoting misinformation and undermining professional journalism.
“We are unlucky to have these lots as the source of journalism in Nigeria when they keep working hard every day to make a mess of the noble profession,” he added.
