Some Nigerians have expressed dissatisfaction at the outlawing of the ‘Arise O Compatriots’ national anthem for the re-enacted ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ anthem.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law to commemorate his one year in office and to also mark 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in the country.

The bill, which was introduced last Thursday, received accelerated consideration and passage same day at the House of Representatives and likewise at the Senate on Tuesday.

The new anthem, which was composed by the British, was initially introduced in the 1960s but was later expunged for the old anthem by the Olusegun Obasanjo regime in 1978.

Reacting, Reno Omokri, former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, described the passing of the old National Anthem into law as a distraction, insisting that’s the president should have rather focused on lowering the cost of food, and providing a better minimum wage for workers.

Mr Omokri said, “As a nation, our focus should be to revert as much as possible to lower prices of foods, goods and utilities and services for our people instead of reverting to an old national anthem written by an English woman, Lillian Jean Williams. I support President Tinubu on nearly everything he has done, but not on this one. It is a distraction. The President should focus on delivering a new and better minimum wage for Nigerians, not a new National Anthem written by a foreigner.”

Decrying the country’s habit of importing “food, fuel, pharmaceuticals, and even our Super Eagles Senior Coaches,” Omokri stated that, “We are the land of song and dance. We do not also need to import a National Anthem.”

“You can imagine the land of such music icons, like Fela Kuti, Osita Osadebe, Dan Maraya Jos, and contemporary stars, like Sade Adu, Burna Boy, Davido and Wizkid, importing music of national significance from Britain. As my Yoruba brethren will say, ‘O wrong now!'” He concluded.

On her part, former minister of education, Ob Ezekwesili, vowed not to sing the re-enacted anthem saying, “Let it be known to all and sundry that I, Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili shall, whenever asked to sing the Nigerian National Anthem sing: ‘Arise O Compatriots’.”

In a later post, Mrs Ezekwesili wrote, “Absolutely incredulous! “Native Land”. “Tribes”. In 21st Century Nigeria, the country’s political class found a colonial National Anthem that has pejorative words like “Native Land” and “Tribes” to be admirable enough to foist on our Citizens without their consent.”

“It is inevitable that there will be an ideological War between the Political Class and the Citizens of Nigeria. It is only but a matter of “When?” She warned.

Wondering why a new national anthem should be the priority, “with all the horrible indicators on the state of governance,” the former minister added that, “I frankly thought it was a joke and gave it no attention. What an egregious case of “Majoring in the Minor” this is!”.

She, therefore, urged citizens to “collectively save ourselves and this country from these overpaid, unethical, incompetent and incapable “Lawbreakers” in the @nassnigeria and their similarly characterized collaborators in the Executive and Judicial branches of Government across this Land,” adding that, “the political class is the biggest curse on this country.”

Former Kaduna senator, Shehu Sani, simply said, “Nigeria is facing serious economic and security challenges but it’s prioritising changing its national anthem. We have bacterial infection, we opted for Prada fragrance instead of Penicillin.”

Popular radio presenter Bukola Ogunride, on her X handle @bukola23, also condemned the passing into law of the new anthem, saying, “This was done to satisfy the lawmakers and not the people. Can we now say they truly represent the people????”

In another comment to a post, she wrote, “To them, it is something significant. Can’t you see how hurriedly it was done? But alas, it showed how distant those in governance are from the people and their degree of deep thinking.”

An X user, Eniola Akinkuotu @ENIBOY said, “Nigeria reverts to its old colonial era national anthem. The anthem was amended in 5 days. Another reminder how easy it is for Tinubu to pass a law through the National Assembly where his allies are fully in charge. Why not use this power to make investment-boosting laws?”

Another X user, @Backarray wrote, “In 2024, 469 Nigeria lawmakers woke up one morning and decided to abandon a national anthem written by a Nigerian for the one written by their colonial masters. A brilliant display of pride and patriotism.”

“I couldn’t even care less about what national anthem Nigeria has, it’s just the sheer audacity of doing something as futile & pointless as that when the entire country is in ruins that’s doing my head in look at how broken the country is, & the one thing you’re swift to ‘fix’ is something that’s not even broken. make it make sense pleasee,” @tomiwebstr wrote.

CNN Senior Editor, Africa, Stephanie Busari, on her X handle, insisted that the “National anthem to me will always be “Arise o compatriots. Nigeria’s call obey!” And that second stanza hits different. So profound. What is the significance of the Nigerian national anthem changing on the one-year anniversary of the Tinubu administration?”

“They just unilaterally chose to abandon a widely loved national anthem written by Nigerians to go back to an outdated anthem written by a foreigner forced and force-fed on Nigerians. Tomorrow, these are the same people who will gaslight you and tell you to “believe” in Nigeria,” @OurFavOnlineDoc said.

Popular sports journalist, Godwin Enaghena, on his X handle, said, “The Super Eagles of Nigeria have all but a week to learn how to sing the national anthem of Nigeria. I hope they’re aware.”