Every time I read the lyrics to our national anthem - and then, read the posts on NL - I shake my head in disgust. Sometimes, I feel like cutting my nose to spite my face - but it seems everything wrong with us can be traced to our national anthem. Our present national anthem is too shallow for brotherhood and patriotism to reign in Nigeria. I prefer the old one IMO!

Our national anthem and pledge below:

Anthem
"Arise, O Compatriots"
Arise, O compatriots,
Nigeria's call obey
To serve our Fatherland
With love and strength and faith.
The labour of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain,
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.

O God of creation
Direct our noble cause
Guide our leaders right
Help our youth the truth to know
In love and honesty to grow
And living just and true
Great lofty height attain
To build a nation where peace
And justice shall reign.

Pledge
I pledge to Nigeria my country,
To be faithful, loyal and honest,
To serve Nigeria with all my strength,
To defend her unity,
And uphold her honor and glory,
So help me God.

The old national anthem
Nigeria we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though tribe and tongue may differ,
In brotherhood we stand,
Nigerians all are proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign,
In peace or battle honour'd,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
O God of all creation,
Grant this our one request,
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed,
And so with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.

The bolded parts of the old anthem illustrates why our founding fathers were more patriotic. Most of our problems started after we changed our national anthem to the present one - that was when cannibals like IBB and Abacha were sent to bury Nigeria in the bottomless pit. Like they say: there is power in words!

N/B: This post may sound dumb, but in life anything is possible.

Though tribe and tongue may differ, In brotherhood we stand,

and

Help us to build a nation, Where no man is oppressed,

I love these two lines!!

thanks for your insight but is nigeria a one nation presently?

@poster cut the crap, tribalism has been institutionalized even before the new anthem was adopted. You are a good student of history so go back in time and rehearse our national history then you'd know. Tribalism didn't start in 1960 when 'Nigeria we hail thee' was adopted nor in 1978 when 'Arise, O compatriots' was adopted. The composer of the new one Benedict Odiase would be regretting right now. God save the king/Queen preceded both anyway.

lol

bittyend:

I love these two lines!!

Brotherhood!!! Yoruba+Igbo+Hausa = The Brotherhood Fraternity!!!

Power in diversity!

Think about it eveything happening in the country today is the exact opposite to the national anthem

To many national anthem is a mere song

HAH: To many national anthem is a mere song

And that's wrong - our national anthem should be the theme song for patriotism - and something which subconsciously guides us as Nigerians.