Reno Omokri, a sociopolitical activist and former presidential aide, has expressed strong disapproval of the decision to reinstate the old national anthem in Nigeria.
Despite opposition, both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed a bill adopting the anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.” Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation, had urged caution, emphasizing that legislative debate alone should not determine the anthem’s fate.
Omokri argues that returning to the old anthem, which was used from 1960 to 1978, is unnecessary. He believes that the existing anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” composed by Nigerian citizens, served its purpose well. In contrast, the old anthem was written by an English woman, Lillian Jean Williams. Omokri questions why a foreigner should shape Nigeria’s national identity through its anthem.
He further criticizes the lack of indigenous priorities, especially considering the multifaceted challenges the country faces. Omokri suggests that Nigeria should have considered changing its name to something more indigenous, akin to Ghana’s transition from Gold Coast to Ghana in 1957. Instead, the focus has been on reverting to a colonial-era relic, which he finds preposterous.
In his passionate plea, Omokri challenges readers to name another country whose national anthem was penned by a foreigner, emphasizing that even a “Banana Republic” would avoid such a move .
