The Nigerian government says it is seeking wider consultations on the change of country’s National Anthem.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, said the Nigerian government is specifically proposing consultations through zonal public hearings, resolutions of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), Council of State, National and State Assemblies and others.
The government has therefore asked members of the National Assembly to subject the Nigerian National Anthem Bill to wider consultations before passing it.
Mr. Fagbemi stated this in Abuja at a public hearing on the bill to revert to the old national anthem.
It is titled: “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the National Anthem of Nigeria, and for Matters Related.”
The hearing was jointly organised by the Senate Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Interior, to which it was referred by the Senate last week Thursday after it scaled second reading.
The House of Representatives accelerated and passed the bill in a single sitting on Thursday.
Mr. Fagbemi said there was a need for a wider process where Nigerians and other arms and tiers of government would participate in the decision to revert to the old national anthem before it finally becomes law.
He specifically proposed consultations through zonal public hearings, resolutions of the Federal Executive Council, Council of State, National and State Assemblies, etc.
“Consequently, it is my considered view that the decision to change Nigeria’s National Anthem, whether by replacing it with the old one or a new one, should be subjected to a wider process of citizen participation through zonal public hearings, resolutions of the Federal Executive Council, Council of State, National and State Assemblies, etc.
“The outcome of this process is bound to be a true reflection of the wishes of the generality or majority of Nigerians. I thank you all for granting me the audience to contribute my thoughts to this national cause,” the Minister explained.
Mr. Fagbemi further said that a national anthem is expected to be universally accepted by citizens of the country also stressed that the composition of the national anthem should be determined through competition.
He said; “I would like to observe that it is generally accepted that a national anthem is considered a major symbol of national identity and culture. It is meant to reflect the people’s hopes, values and history. A national anthem is expected to enjoy universal acceptance and veneration amongst the citizens, for it to attain the status of an official song that commands respect, patriotism and national consciousness.
“In some cases, the National anthem emerges from open national competition among interested citizens. In other instances, the proposed national anthem is subjected to a plebiscite or referendum, before its eventual adoption or declaration. The essence of the foregoing is to secure the buy-in and confidence of the people and to ensure that the anthem meets their collective aspirations and suits their contemporary socio-political conditions.”
The Attorney General, therefore, recommended that the change of the National anthem should not be through presidential proclamation or legislation alone without considering the opinion of the masses.
He said; “Against the background of the foregoing, I am of the considered opinion that the revered issue of choice of a national item should not come into being only by legislative fiat, or presidential proclamation alone.
“It is not out of place for Nigeria to be guided by the process of evolution of a national anthem in other jurisdictions. For most African countries, the national anthem symbolises the end of colonialism. Hence, former British colonies jettisoned “God Bless the Queen” to adopt their home-made national anthems which were all notably written by their own citizens.
“You may all recall that following the attainment of independence in 1960, a new anthem was adopted for Nigeria. The anthem was written by one Miss Lilian Jean Williams and composed into a song by Miss Frances Berda, who were both British citizens.”
“Subsequently, the Government at the time decided to change the anthem because it was written by a British citizen, without any input from Nigerians. It was also observed that the Anthem clarified our differences in the wording.
“A Committee was set up which called for entries nationally to promote national ownership. Close to 1500 entries were received, following which the committee picked entries from five finalists. These entries were subsequently put together and a new anthem was developed. The Poem was then given to Mr. Benedict Elide Odiase to compose into a song. Mr Odiase was the Music Director for the Nigeria Police Force and the Midwest State Police Band. This led to the emergence of the current national Anthem, which was first sung on October 1st 1960,” he added.
Also speaking at the hearing, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris recommended that the scope of the bill should be expanded to include a robust issue of national identity rather than limiting it to a change of national anthem.
Mr. Idris, represented by the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu noted that some lines in the old national anthem do not make a complete meaning.
“The issue of the national anthem is just a subset. What we should be looking at is the National Identity Act.
“The challenge we have today is that we do not have a valued national identity, of which the national anthem is one of them. It is not about singing in schools, it is about learning and imbibing it,” he added.
A human rights activist Mr. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, argued that the national anthem ought to have been changed for a long time.
Mr. Ozekhome recalled how he sponsored a motion for a call to change the Nigerian anthem during the 2014 CONFAB convened during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He also proposed a change of the Nigerian flag and a change of the country’s name to Airegin during the CONFAB 2014 but they were rejected.
The senior lawyer said the content of the old national anthem is preferable and that it will help the country to resolve many challenges.
The Director General of The Flag Foundation of Nigeria, Mr. Ajiri Chris, also supported reverting to the old national anthem.
The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who represented the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and chaired the hearing said the Upper Chamber followed due process in sponsoring the bill before it passed the first and second reading.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
