TheCable

The house of representatives has passed a bill seeking to reintroduce the old national anthem.

The old national anthem is themed: ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’.

The house speedily passed the bill for first, second, and third readings during plenary on Thursday.

The bill passed third reading after Julius Ihonvbere, majority leader of the house who sponsored it, moved for its consideration at the “committee of the whole” where the clauses were voted on and approved.

It is not very often that the house initiates a bill and passes same on the same legislative day.

Ihonvbere urged his colleagues to support the bill, saying it promotes unity of the country.

THE DEBATE

In his contribution, Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader, vehemently opposed the bill.

Chinda said there must be a “clear cause” to make laws, adding that “we will be taking ourselves back” by passing the bill.

“What value will it add to us as a nation?” he asked.

He said Nigerians are looking up to parliament to make laws that add value to the country.

“I stand to oppose it. I ask the leader to withdraw the bill,” he said.

Satomi Ahmed from Borno also opposed the bill, saying it would not stop hunger and banditry.

“Let us do something that will bring development in the eyes of the international community. Let us think of something that will bring progress,” he said.

Ahmed Jaha from Borno supported the bill, arguing that the ‘Arise O Compatriot’ anthem has not benefitted the country.

He said Nigerians do not identify with the current anthem.

When Ben Kalu, the deputy speaker who presided over plenary, put the bill to a voice vote, the “nays” were louder than the “ayes”. However, he said the “nays” had it.

BILL SCALES SECOND READING IN SENATE

Meanwhile, the bill has passed second reading in the red chamber.

The proposed legislation passed second reading after Opeyemi Bamidele, majority leader of the senate, led a debate on it.

Bamidele said there is a need to have an anthem that would promote patriotism in the country.

Contributing to the debate on the general principles of the bill, Victor Umeh, senator representing Anambra central, said an anthem is supposed to be motivational, adding that the current one is anything but emotive.

“The old one we are seeking to bring back is one that evokes emotions,” Umeh said.

“A national anthem is supposed to be motivational. There is motivation in the old anthem.

“I think from what my colleagues have said, there is nothing in the current anthem that motivates our people. If we bring it back, our children will be more committed to the ideals of nationhood.

“This old national anthem carries everything together.”

On his part, Plang Diket, senator representing Plateau central, said the old anthem promotes brotherhood.

“Unity can only be acquired when there is brotherhood,” Diket said.

“The reintroduction of brotherhood in our national anthem is fundamental.

“Though we are different, we are bound together. This bill talks about Nigeria’s flag. You go around and you see it tattered. There is a need for Nigerians to respect national symbols.”

Okechukwu Eze, senator representing Enugu north, said the current anthem “does not pass any message”.

The bill passed second reading after it was put to a voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The old national anthem was introduced on October 1, 1960, after Nigeria gained independence.

It served as the national anthem until 1978, when it was replaced with the current tune.

Sing along to the old national anthem below:

Nigeria we hail thee
Our dear native land
Though tribes and tongues may differ, In brotherhood we stand
Nigerians all, are proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign
In peace or battle, honour’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
O God of all creation
Grant this our one request.
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed
And so with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.