The Nigerian Questions and the National Anthem
By Momoh Ayuba Danjumah
A few hours ago, the startling news of the Senate passing legislation to change the Nigerian national anthem to her former one engulfed my phone, and as many thoughts rushed through my mind, I was overcome with nostalgic feelings of, is this a serious problem at this sensitive time? Is the phrase of the national anthem genuinely changing Nigerians’ actions? Millions of Nigerians may be experiencing a wide range of emotions as to this sudden new development.
The first National Anthem, which lasted for 18 years in Nigeria, was cut short by the Obasanjo/Shehu Yaradua Government due to a series of criticisms by a number of people in Nigeria, the anthem which was written by a British expatriate named Lillian Jean Williams and composed by Frances Berda, both of whom lived in Nigeria up until the independence era. The rhythm of the old anthem, which evokes emotions and the love of oneness, garnished with the embrace of differences with the undertone of brotherhood, suggests that the British expatriates truly understood the concept of togetherness and brotherhood before accepting to pass down the anthem to us, which is very different from the current anthem given to us by the Military Junta.
By the 1970s, when the country had been shattered by the dregs of civil war, where brotherhood had become enemyhood, the former anthem made a lot of sense at the time, as it sank in and resonated with the Gowon strategy of peace and unity, which was the (3Rs) of Reconciliation, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation. When the anthem was sung, emotions aside, hatred faded and love for togetherness became a force to be reckoned with.
Nigerians from over 400 ethnic backgrounds united by a sense of oneness and joined in brotherhood beneath the banner of a sovereign nation. The earlier anthem, which provoked many debates, distilled them all into a single message of unity, togetherness, brotherhood, and being a brother’s keeper, with a prayer at the end, expressing optimism that Nigeria will always strive.
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The turnaround began in the mid-1970s for the alteration of the anthem, following a number of agitations that addressed policymakers then led by the military, which discovered that the anthem did not align with the easy flow of Nigerianness, necessitating immediate attention to change. The then-Nigerian government issued a request for lyrics to the public; numerous entries were received, resulted to five top entries, the lyrics were made from the entries of the five best which were: P.O Aderibigbe, John A. Ilechukwu, Dr. S. Omoigui, B.A Ogunnaike, and E.T. Akpan, the music was composed by the Nigerian Police Band, led by the late Benedict P. Odiase.
The anthem, which contains two stanzas, places a heavy emphasis on the founding founders, particularly the freedom struggle combatants and those who protected Nigeria’s purity from colonial oppression. The song also helped to connect leadership from the kids who will serve as leaders in the future, reflecting strength, love, and unity in a society where peace and justice can triumph.
Many questions are begging for urgent answers, there are many confrontations facing the country right now. It is clear that Nigerians, including policymakers, do not learn from history; the same flaws that were pointed out against the old anthem before its eventual removal are being leveled against the current one, which is actually awaiting the approval and consent of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria before becoming law.
Many Nigerian questions remained unanswered prior to the demands for the anthem removal; do the anthem’s wordings/lyrics genuinely have an effect on change? Does optimism truly abound with the way the anthem is recited? Questions confronted Nigerians are enormous, what are the drastic and urgency required and the effect it is having in the landmark, the crisis in Jos continue to be a recurrent situations, the clashes between the people and the headsmen parading themselves to be herdsmen, taken away people’s heads indiscriminately, What about the rate at which the naira devalues every single day, the lack of dignity and sympathy for lives by Boko-haram, who have paraded themselves as Nigeria’s number one enemy, the hunger, hard lives, and poverty that has eaten up every low-income earner in Nigeria, the border conflict and clashes everywhere in Nigeria, the market prices that are inflated every hour, causing the economy to be in a state of quagmire? There are numerous questions facing Nigeria. I believe that one day, as a nation, we will get it right; if not now, then soon.
