Bill, seeking to revert to Nigeria’s Old National Anthem has passed a second reading in the Nigerian Senate.
The old anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was replaced with the current one “Arise, O Compatriots” in 1978 during the Olusegun Obasanjo regime.
The Bill which was sponsored by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, enjoyed overwhelming support from his colleagues during Thursday’s Plenary.
The Lawmakers, who appeared unanimous in support of the proposed Bill, asserted that the current National Anthem is a product of the Military Junta, decreed by the Military, and therefore should be discarded to adequately capture the Nation’s democratic values, integrity and principally foster commitment to nationhood.
After a rigorous Debate, President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio referred the proposed Bill to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters to report back to the Senate in Plenary for further legislative input.
If the Bill is passed, the existing Anthem will be replaced with the old components of the Anthem.
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