News

Reps Hurriedly Pass Bill To Revert To Old National Anthem ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’

Published

4 months ago

May 23, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…as Minority Leader say old anthem will mean a return to colonialism

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives on Thursday at plenary hurriedly passed a bill to revert to the old national anthem ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ and get rid of the present one, ‘Arise O’ Compatriots.

Naijablitznews.com reports that the New national anthem came into existence in 1978 while the old came into existence in 1960.

Despite the rejection by majority of the lawmakers who voted against bill, the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, ruled in favour of its passage.

The lawmakers thereafter staged a walkout as a sign of their grievances. Naijablitznews.com heard some say “enough is enough, we can’t continue like this”.

The bill which was sponsored by the House Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, swiftly passed through first, second reading, considered and approved at the Committee of the Whole and passed for third reading at plenary within one hour of its introduction on the floor of the House.

The legislation is titled, “Bill For An Act to Provide for the National Anthem of Nigeria, and for Matters Related Thereto.”

The bill stipulated that on the date of commencement of the Bill, the national anthem of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which is prescribed in the Schedule to the proposed legislation.

According to the bill, the national anthem of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shal be a national symbol and sign of authority, and all persons, individuals or corporate entities, shall respect the national anthem and preserve the dignity of the national anthem.

The proposed legislation provided that the national anthem shall be performed and sung on occasions such as: opening and closing ceremonies of Federal Executive Council, and State Executives Council meetings, opening and closing of sittings of Legislative Houses in Nigeria and Constitutional oath-swearing ceremonies.

Others are: “Major celebrations, major award ceremonies, major commemorative ceremonies, national memorial ceremonies and the like, which are organised by MDAs, major diplomatic activities, major sporting events, other occasions as may from time to time, be determined by the minister responsible for education with the consent of the President.”

It also stated that the performance and singing of the national anthem shall follow the lyrics prescribed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The new law prescribed that when the national anthem is performed and sung “-(a) those present shall stand and deport respectfully, and

(b) at flag-raising ceremonies, those present shall face the flag, and uniformed military personnel, Police and other Security personnel are to give a hand salute, and other persons are to look on in respect.

“The Ministry responsible for information shall organize the review and approval of the standard for performance of the national anthem, and record the official recording of the national anthem to be played. The standard and official recorded versions of the national anthem shall be published on the Federal Government of Nigeria’s website.

“Primary and Secondary schools shall make the lyrics of the national anthem part of the civic education and organise pupils and students to learn the national anthem.The second stanza of the former national anthem shall be the national prayer,” the bill reads further.

Debating the bill, Rep. Ihonbvere said Nigeria is at the stage of redesigning the way forward.

According to him, the old Anthem, encompasses, contains, exudes the kind of energy, resourcefulness and a sense of vision that he believe is good for Nigeria.

“Mr Speaker the old Anthem not only begins by telling us of the pride to serve our nation which is what is required right now when people are “Japa-ing” left, right and centre. But it goes on to assert the sovereignty of our motherland.

“Mr Speaker a time comes in the life of every organisation or a nation when the people must sit down look at the past , the present, the future and have the courage, the sense of mission and the sense of nation to define, design the way forward. I believe that Nigeria is at that stage and momentum.

“Mr Speaker, this bill is straightforward. It is a bill that seeks to enjoin us to at our Anthem as a national symbol and sign if authority. One that will pull us together, will give us hope and courage, a sense of duty to the nation. That does not necessarily deny the reality and that is the main of contemporary societies. They deny reality, they pretend racism doesn’t exist, ethnicity doesn’t exist, poverty doesn’t exist. They rationalise this by looking at GMP, GDP and the reality stares people in the face and that is when you are faced with the realities then you can attack and deal with it frontally.

“So it seeks to say that as a people as Nigerians fronti g a new renewed hope moving forward, tackling the rot decay, dislocation and distortion of the past. We should go back to our old national anthem which gives us that energy, that sense of commitment, sense of dedication and a desire to to.move Nigeria forward.

“I have taken time to look at the old Anthem, the old and the new, and as a Nigerian who have been involved in the struggle to make Nigeria a better place either as a student to the student union movement including the “Ali must go” movement or as a University teacher having been Secretary, vice chairman and chairman of ASUU or as a pro democracy activity who spent twelve and a half years in self exile”, Rep. Ihonbvere asserted.

But the House Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda believes that reverting to the old Anthem would mean going g back to colonialism, which in the first place was the reason for the old national anthem that was written by the colonial masters.

He stated that whilst it is their function to make laws for the good governance of Nigeria but then for every law, there must be a clear purpose, a clear vision a clear spirit behind the law.

The Minority Leader said: “Now if we ask ourselves one question, what is the essence of a national anthem? I will say, just like other national symbols, the national anthen represents the tradition, the history, the beliefs of a nation and its people. Hence it helps evoke feelings if patriotism amongst citizenry and reminds them of their nation’s glory, beauty and rich heritage.

“So the question I will want to ask is what does this old national anthem reminds us of? What is the history behind the old national anthem that our brother, Honourable professor is asking us to adopt?

“History dates back to colonialism and why did we go for a new national anthem? It is because we wanted to lose ourselves from that colonial tie and so the country set up a committee to look at the National anthen and a new national anthem amongst competitors which filed in their suggestions, five of them were picked and put together and that gave us the national anthem that we have today. Made by Nigerians, composed by Nigerians and proper Nigerian national anthem.

Chinda went back to history to educate the parliament on the history of the Old national anthem.

“Let me also remind us that the old national anthem was authority by Lilian Jean Williams and composed by Francis Banda bother of them Britton. And after independence we tried as much as possible to Nigerianise our actions.

“So sir, today we are taking ourselves back to that old National Anthem. Incidentally I will even ask again. Is this very important at the particular juncture in our national life? What value will it add to us as a nation? I think that these questions need to be answered. Nigerians looking up to us for more fundamental issues that will cause proper change.

“Like Prof took us to history lane that great men make history. What isbthe history that we are about to make? History that will change this country or history that will take us backwards. There are several questions that are left unanswered.

“So I will stand this morning or this afternoon as a Nigerian to say NO to this act. I stand to oppose it and I pray that we look atvit critically and urge the sponsor, the House Leader to withdraw this bill and perhaps take a second look at it and represent same if necessary” Rep Chinda stated.

Rep. Ahmed Satomi, who also spoke again the bill as he believes that at this time of our nation we should be talking Information Technology and not national anthem, as he said Nigerians are looking up to the parliament.

“Nigerians are looking up to us regarding this bill because many of us in our early 40s don’t know this national anthem. I don’t know how this bill on the national anthem will affect the common man. Let’s be realistic how this will help the government to stop hunger, banditry, or improve security. Let’s do what is beneficial to the common man and this Honourable chamber is the only for now standing forbthe common man of Nigeria.

“So Nigerians are looking up to us, I concur with the Minority Leader. Let’s look at something that will bring a development in the eyes of the international communities to Nigeria.

“People are discussing Nano Technology, Internet and we are still discussing national anthem”, Reps Satomi asserted.

But Rep. Ahmed Jaha is of the opinion that Nigerians are not happy with the happening and therefore there is need reverting to the old national anthem as the current anthem is not yielding positive results.

According to Jaha, you don’t need a soothsayer to tell you that people are not happy on their faces.

He said: “It has been accepted widely and scientifically proven that if you keep doing one thing without results, it is an indication of lunacy and it may not lead to success. We are all aware that the national anthem we have been singing is not what what we have been practicing as Nigerians.

We say arise, O compatriots! Are we patriots? Who are the compatriots? Do we normally place our national interests above our individual interests?

“Secondly, to serve our fatherland with love, strength and faith. None of these is happening. There is no love in the services that we have been providing because it is personal interest first before national interest . That is why people are even leaving the country to go and show love to other countries of the world. To show their strength, their intellectual capacity, educational pedigree. How many Nigerians have faith in the country? Most Nigerians have lost confidence, faith in the country.

“Thirdly, the labour of our heroes past shall not be in vain. Are they not in vain? My father is a retired Nigerian army officer. His pension has not been paid promptly. And you are here telling people that their own effort, sacrifices should be taken into cognizance . Just payment of pension, we have not been doing that.

“Section 5 of the Contributory Pension Act is clear. That there must be group insurance cover for each and every employee of Nigeria and it must three times the total annual emolument of that employee. How many civil servants benefit from this immediately their death or permanent disability?”, he stated.she

After the debate the Deputy Speaker put it to a vote and ruled in favour of the Bill, passing it for second reading and the House immediately considered the bill in the committee of the whole and returned back to plenary and the bill passed for third reading.

News

LASG shuts down Idera market over ‘environmental pollution

Published

2 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) says it has sealed off the Idera market in the Oshodi metropolis.

In a statement on Thursday, Ajayi Lukman, LAGESC spokesperson, said the agency sealed the market due to unhygienic practices and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, which contravened the environmental law of the state.

He said the measure was taken to enforce adherence to environmental cleanliness across registered markets in the state.

‘‘Our operatives stationed across the Oshodi division during routine market monitoring identified the filth, unhygienic practices, and indiscriminate dumping of refuse around the Idera Market area, which prompted us to seal off the market until further notice,” the statement reads.

Lukman quoted Olaniyi Cole, the corps marshal of the agency, as decrying the level of hygiene at the market, which could lead to an outbreak of diseases.

He said Cole frowned at the inability of the market leadership to provide a valid waste collection contract, which resulted in the heaps of refuse in the facility.

He added that the display of wares for sale on road setbacks, lay-bys, medians, verges, kerbs, street trading, and hawking remained banned in the metropolis.

The LAGESC corps marshal reiterated the ban on the sales, distribution, and usage of styrofoam in the state, noting that anyone found culpable would be punished decisively.

News

Hours to Edo guber polls, major opposition candidate crumbles structure for Ighodalo

Published

2 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Hours to the Edo State governorship election, the guber candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP)Amb Osalumese Areloegbe on Thursday morning collapsed the structure for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie Esq.

Addressing journalists at the party secretariat in Benin City, Areloegbe said his decision to collapse the structure for the PDP candidate was because he believed that Ighodalo had all it would take to govern the state to greater heights.

According to him, I urged all my followers and supporters to disregard any information that I have aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

“I am supporting Asue Ighodalo because he is competent, not that I am not competent but I believe Asue is on the forefront. That is my reason for supporting his candidacy.

“My party is aware because they have been having a series of negotiations for us to align with the APC, and I told them categorically that I am supporting PDP. My eighteen local government followers are in full support of my decision, I mean 100 per cent supporting the PDP candidate, Barr. Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Barr. Osarodion Ogie in this election.

“My choice for Asue Ighodalo is because, apart from myself, I see him as the next better candidate that I can support and I can put my weight on because he has the capacity, mentally, physically and otherwise to pilot the affairs of Edo State to greater heights.

“The national secretariat of my party, APP – they are in Abuja and I am in the state, and know much more of what is happening in Edo State. They are not here and don’t know what is going on here in Edo. And I am in a position to tell them what will be better for the Edo people.

“There is a parable that says, ‘You cannot shave a man’s head when he is not present’. I am here in Edo State and I know who to support and why I am supporting him. The national leadership might have taken a different tone, but this is what I and my followers have chosen.

“We had a series of other politicians who had made such decisions before. That is why I agreed with the support of my supporters to collapse my structure for the governorship candidate of the PDP Barr. Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Barr. Osarodion Ogie.”

News

SAD! Woman reportedly d!3s in Osun building c0llapse

Published

2 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A resident of Ifetedo in Osun State, simply identified as Idowu, had reportedly died in an incident of collapse building that occurred in the town.

The collapsed structure was said to be a dilapidated building that suddenly caved in and killed the woman.

A resident of Ifetedo, simply identified as Ogunyemi, while speaking to The PUNCH on Thursday, said operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, responding to a distress call, were at the scene of the incident.

Some NSCDC operatives rushed to the scene after they were informed of the incident. They were joined by some other people in the community.

Idowu was the only person in the building when the incident happened. She was brought out dead from the rubble.

“The incident caused panic in Omiloode Area, where the building is located. The building that collapsed is a dilapidated structure,” Ogunyemi said.

Osun NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Kehind Adeleke, when contacted confirmed the incident, adding that the scene was immediately cordoned off by security men.

“An abandoned dilapidated building located along Omiloode Street, Ifetedo collapsed and killed one Mrs Idowu, who was said to be around the structure when the incident happened.

“The tragic incident occurred at about 17:30 hours on Tuesday.

“Officers and men of NSCDC Ife South Division, upon getting information rushed to the scene of the incident for rescue operation. But unfortunately, the woman had passed on. She was brought out of the rubble dead. The site was immediately cordoned off,” Adeleke said.