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After hearing of the proposal of some delegates
at the ongoing confab that we should revert to
the old national anthem, I sat by my piano and
played both anthems. Playing and singing to the
current anthem “Arise O’ Compatriot” was
basically easy because I had done that countless
times and I wasn’t even looking at the piano
keys as I sang through the verses.

I downloaded the lyrics of the old anthem just
to be sure I was singing the right words. I know
the tune by heart because my dad frequently
sang it to me when I was a little school boy.
And I felt nothing as usual singing it. But right
from the first line of the old anthem “Nigeria We
Hail Thee,” I felt a strange sense of pride and
patriotism. I felt very strange because like every
Nigerian, I am saddened that as a country, we
have lost our way.

We are a giant tied to undeveloped nations, and
kept in bondage by our leaders whose corruption
and greed demonstrate a lack of love for their
own people. As I got to the point that says
“Though tribes and tongues may differ and in
brotherhood we stand,” I discovered that I had
stopped playing the piano and was just reciting
the words.

Struck with the fact that the composers took to
mind our vast ethnic differences and even
proffered a solution that in “brotherhood” we
will stand strong against adversaries, home or
foreign. Our tribal and ethnic differences have
been at the bottom of every problem we have
faced as a country.

President Obasanjo had all the right in the world
to dream, a leader who does not dream, hardly
accomplishes much, but my point is that a
leader has to dream right, and not take the
nation on a pipe dream. There were lots of
bridges our nation needed to cross at that time.
There were lots of things a good leader should
have seen happen, before going after such an
unwarranted project of changing the national
anthem.

Singing further, it became clear to me why the
old anthem must have been changed
immediately I saw the line that says “To hand on
to our children a banner without stain.” The
words of this anthem can only resonate in a
country with moral leadership, starting from its
leaders and permeating all tiers of the
government from top to bottom. Corruption is no
longer a problem in Nigeria as it has become a
full fledge institution and a way of life.

Every morning at schools, chorus of voices try to
hit the high notes of the current anthem, which
have proved uninspiring even for the little kids.
Ask our politicians why they always muffle the
lyrics. In fact, many people consider ours the
world’s least singable national anthem. I think it
is time for a revert to the old anthem. Just like
the confab delegates have pointed out.

It is obvious that we can no longer be comforted
by the drum roll in the current national anthem.
I haven’t seen any Nigerian smiling with pride
whenever it is being played. I am sure Pa Odiase
won’t be smiling at me now from heaven for
saying this. But truth be told, the music of our
current anthem has failed to inspire one nation
bound in freedom, peace and unity.

A lot of Nigerians have become too comfortable
being tone-deaf and have resisted every attempt
for their hearing to be restored. A lot of
Nigerians love the tone of deceit as much as to
dance to it. I have sung the current anthem
countless times but my literary appreciation and
criticism would not allow me to accept it. I kept
asking myself what evil have we committed as a
nation to warrant our leaders to seek escape
from a vow to “hand over to our children a
banner without stain.” They have changed the
prayers in the old anthem to fading echos. Little
wonder the country is at the brink of collapse.

We love Nigeria and believe in her great
potential, but we must also address issues of
oppression and injustice within her as written in
the old anthem. I love the part that says “Our
flag shall be a symbol that truth and justice
reigns.” Today, wherever you find the Nigerian
flag, it is either torn or rumpled so bad or on
make-shift poles that you wonder if our leaders
in government and people ever consider such
symbols as important at all. How can you
indoctrinate your people on how to appreciate
and value their citizenship and nationality if
symbols like that mean nothing to you? And
when you don’t value what you have, how do
you expect other nationals to value it? It all
boils down to the nation doing what it needs to
do to make its citizen proud to belong. Our
governments, state and federal, just don’t value
such things.

The current anthem talks about love. But our
political leaders show only love for themselves
and their immediate family. We are living the
opposite of everything called for in the current
anthem. Our leaders with their blindness are
unable to see the car crash waiting to happen.
They should know that the history of this nation
can never be altered or erased no matter how
hard they try.

THE OLD ANTHEM (1960- 1978)
Nigeria we hail thee, Our own dear native
land, Though tribes and tongues 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.

SOURCE …

Truly beautiful words. A reversion won't hurt much.

But, it'll

Rocktation: Truly beautiful words. A reversion won't hurt much.

Hi

farano: Hi

Hiya, partner. Welcome aboard.

The drum is the symbol of Africa's musical instrument, but it is not featured in 99% of all African national anthems! Ask yourself why?