By Eze Onyekpere
The recent change of Nigeria’s national anthem, translating into the old anthem becoming the new, while the new became the old, raises serious questions on the extent of entrenchment of the democratic culture in Nigeria. This discourse reviews the process and the institutions that led the national anthem change process and what it portends for the nation.
The first point to note is that the national anthem is a product of a legislative process, which falls within the constitutional remit of the National Assembly in its task of making laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation or any part thereof. But this assertion is just the beginning as there is a process for legislation, especially on very serious and sensitive issues like the national anthem. The legislative procedures of the National Assembly demand the involvement and participation of the people in the lawmaking process through public hearings and submissions before relevant committees so that laws are well nuanced and reflect the consensus of a broad section of society. Furthermore, laws are not made in a hurry, in a matter of days so that the first, second and third readings are all done within a limited period of time, which denies the public the opportunity to make inputs. Therefore, the indecent haste in which the old national anthem was repealed and a new one promulgated leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
The second point of significance is that the national anthem is not just another anthem or song. Ideally, it should reflect the spirit, culture, civilization and norms of society encapsulated in a song which every citizen will feel proud to sing. The anthem should be a song story of the aspiration and ideals of a nation, inspiring patriotism and pride of country. S.24 of the 1999 Constitution as amended demands that citizens respect the national anthem which literally means to sing the anthem with reverence and a commitment to honour and serve Nigeria. If this constitutional ideal is to be respected, the process for the emergence of the anthem must be one that respects the dignity of the citizen. It must be a democratic process and not one that short circuits democracy as in the present anthem.
The third point of note is that in this modern day and age, the words of the new anthem about “tribe” and “native land” imports notions of an uncultured, uncivilized, primitive, illiterate and backward people living in clans and these notions were based on racism and colonial descriptions of Africa which fair minded Africans have long discarded and rejected. Hence the word “detribalize” is to civilize and to culture a person or a group. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a tribe “is a group of people, often of related families, who live together, sharing the same language, culture, and history, especially those who do not live in towns or cities.” Can this be the description of any ethnic nationality in Nigeria? To come back in the year 2024, without any form of pressure and to accept the derogatory language of colonialists as a good description of Nigerians and even enacting it into law, the President and the National Assembly have scored an unpardonable own goal. Is it that there are no properly educated and discerning minds between the presidency and the legislature or were they under a spell when they enacted and assented to the law? Something is fundamentally flawed in this scenario.
The fourth point is the news media report that the change was dictated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who had always desired a change to the old anthem. The independence of the arms of government, especially the legislature notwithstanding, President Tinubu had his was as the legislature appears to be an extension of the presidency. Wait a minute, did the executive and legislature mistake their election as a mandate to impose their will on the people? Do they see themselves as dictators whose wish must become law no matter what the Nigerian public think? Where is the culture of consultation and participation that is intrinsic in a democracy? Furthermore, it has been reported that the 2014 National Conference recommended a change to the old anthem which is now the new. However, it is common knowledge that the Muhammadu Buhari presidency jettisoned the report of the conference, with support of his party hierarchy including the incumbent president who was then the national leader of the party.
The fifth point is that the old anthem which has now become new anthem, even though composed under colonial rule followed due process and gave Nigerians the opportunity to participate in its composition and delivery. This is the reported call for its composition. “The National Planning Committee for Independence is thrilled to announce a competition to select a National Anthem to commemorate the Federation of Nigeria’s independence on October 1, 1960.A prize of $280.00 will be awarded for a National Anthem that resonates with the spirit of a free Nigeria, standing proud among the nations of the world. We invite submissions of no more than three verses, each comprising six lines in English. This lyrical representation should capture the essence of our nation (the setting to music will be announced later).Please send your entries by March 31, 1959, to: Independence Celebrations Officer, c/o Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lagos.”Over 1,000 entries were harvested and finally the “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was selected as Nigeria’s inaugural anthem. It was written by a British expatriate living in Nigeria, Lillian Jean Williams, and the music was composed by FrancesBerda. Furthermore, the 1978 “Arise, O Compatriots,” anthem was also a product of popular participation and the anthem was written by Nigerian – John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B. A. Ogunnaike, Sota Omoigui and P. O. Aderibigbe while the music was created by the Nigerian Police Band directed by B. E. Odiasse.
In the final analysis, the new national anthem is flawed and may be difficult for discerning Nigerians to imbibe and describe themselves as tribesmen and women. It is not too late for the National Assembly and the Presidency to retrace their steps and repeal the law. If they are convinced of the dire need for a new national anthem, the process should be thrown open and Nigerians given the opportunity to make inputs. This is a minimum demand and very easy to process in the National Assembly.