By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has urged the leadership of the National Assembly to engage in wider consultations before passing the bill on the old National Anthem.
The AGF 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.
Fagbemi urged the two chambers of the National Assembly to allow many Nigerians to make their input before passing the proposed legislation.
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.
“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.
“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 citizens.
“I appreciate the opportunity extended to me to make observations on the very salient issue of reversion of the national anthem to the previous one which was adopted in 1960, following independence from the United Kingdom.
“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.”
He explained that with the attainment of independence in 1960, Nigeria set up a committee that called for entries nationally to promote national ownership.
He said close to 1500 entries were received, following which the committee picked entries from five finalists.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, recommended that the scope should be expanded to include a robust issue on national identity rather than limiting it to a change of national anthem.
Idris, represented by the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, noted that some lines in the old national anthem do 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.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), supported the move to replace the current” Arise O Compatriots ” National Anthem with the “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, the country started with, in October 1960.
He said such a move was long overdue since the current National Anthem adopted in 1978, does not have the required gravitas and is 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 the 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 law-making.
Chairman of the Committee, Monguno said the National Assembly has done everything it needed to do to pass the National Anthem Bill.
He said, “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 the intendment of the proposed legislation”
Other stakeholders in their submissions preferred the old National Anthem to the current one.
The National Anthem Bill has passed a 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.
