Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recently accused activist Aisha Yesufu of exhibiting nonsensical behavior.
According to Igbokwe, Yesufu’s actions were disrespectful to the national anthem, and he warned that she might be harming herself and her family by refusing to sing the new national anthem, “Nigeria we hail thee,” at an event.
Yesufu had been seen sitting down while others stood up to honor and sing the new anthem. In a video she posted, she captioned it with “Not my national anthem,” expressing her dissent.
President Bola Tinubu had recently signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, reintroducing the old national anthem, “Nigeria we hail thee,” with his assent. This decision sparked mixed reactions, especially given the hardships Nigerians are currently facing.
It’s interesting to see how different perspectives clash over matters like national symbols. While some view Yesufu’s actions as a form of protest, others, like Igbokwe, perceive them as disrespectful. Regardless, discussions around national identity and symbols continue to be relevant and thought-provoking.