Carry Out Wider Consultations on Change of National Anthem, AGF Tells N’Assembly

•Senate: We’ve fulfilled all righteousness 

•Idris canvasses national identity act 

•Ozekhome, others back legislature

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has asked the leadership of the National Assembly to carry out wider consultations before passing the bill meant to return the country to the old National Anthem.

Fagbemi gave the advice yesterday at a public hearing on the Bill,  organised by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, chaired by Senator Tahir Monguno.

But the Chairman of the Committee, Monguno said the National Assembly had done everything it needed to do to pass the National Anthem Bill.

Also, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has recommended that the scope should be expanded to include a robust issue on national identity rather than limiting it to change of national anthem.

At the same time, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, among other patriots, had supported the move to replace the current “Arise O Compatriots” National Anthem with the “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, that the country started with in October 1960.

The National Anthem Bill has passed third reading in the House of Representatives while the Senate passed it for second reading last week and committed it to its panel for further legislative actions.

However, Fagbemi, has urged the two chambers of the National Assembly to allow many Nigerians make their inputs before passing the proposed legislation.

“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.

“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.

“There should be 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 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.”

Monguno maintained that said the National Assembly had done everything it needed to do to pass the National Anthem Bill.

“The Bill has passed first and second reading at the Senate and the Public Hearing was advertised. Those who are not here have probably agreed with intendment of the proposed legislation,” he said.

The information minister, who was represented by the Director-General of National Orientation Agency,  Lanre Issa-Onilu, noted that some lines in the old national anthem did not make a complete meaning.

“The issue of national anthem is just a sub-sect. What we should be looking at is the National Identity Act.

“The challenge we have today is that we do not have a value national identity which the national anthem is one of them. It is not about singing in schools, it is about learning it and imbibing it,” he added.

Ozekhome said such a move was long overdue since the current National Anthem adopted in 1978 , did not have the required gravitas and not inspirational to fire the passion and zeal for nationhood among Nigerians.

Nigeria, according to him, would not be the first country in the world to replace current National Anthem with the old one as over 20 countries like Russia, Austria, Chile, France, Saudi Arabia, China, Brazil, Iran, and Iraq among others, have done so at different times in the past.

He expressed delight that the motion to return to the old National Anthem, which he moved at the 2014 National Conference, was becoming a reality after a decade.

Ozekhome explained that the National Assembly has by the public hearing, concluded necessary legislative process for lawmaking.

Other stakeholders in their submissions, preferred the old National Anthem to the current one.