The Senate and the House of Representatives are separately moving to return to the old National Anthem of Nigeria.
As at the time of this report, 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that the Senate held a closed-door session to consider a bill seeking to amend the components of the Nigerian National Anthem.
The meeting, presided by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, began after the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion to that effect.
It was learnt that the Senate leadership proposed reading the bill for the first time on Thursday and at the same time passing it for a second reading during the plenary.
Similarly, the House of Representatives has passed a bill to revert to the old national anthem.
The bill, sponsored by the Majority Leader of the House, Julius Ihonvbere, was taken through the first, second and third reading on Thursday amid opposition from some lawmakers.
If the bill is passed, the existing anthem will be replaced with the old components of the anthem that were changed in 1978 during the Olusegun Obasanjo regime.
If this is achieved, it will be considered that the bill is hurriedly passed.
The lyrics of the old National Anthem, written by Lillian Jean Williams, composed by Frances Berda and sung between 1960 and 1978 were:
Nigeria we hail thee
Our own dear native land
Though tribe and tongue may differ
In brotherhood we stand
Nigerians all and proud to serve
Our sovereign motherland
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign
In peace or battle honour
And this we count as gain
To pass unto 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 Obasanjo Administration in 1978 adopted the current National Anthem written by John Ikechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, Babatunde Ogunnaike, Sotu Omoigui and P. O. Aderogbu, five winners of a competition, and composed by Benedict Odiase.
