Confusion As President Tinubu, Ministers Recite Old National Anthem At FEC Meeting
Confusion As President Tinubu, Ministers Recite Old National Anthem At FEC Meeting
The development occurred after the old national anthem was played at the meeting, with President Tinubu also joining his ministers in singing along.
There was confusion during a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of his cabinet were seen reciting the old national anthem during the opening ceremony.
The development occurred after the old national anthem was played at the meeting, with President Tinubu also joining his ministers in singing along.
The old anthem begins with the words, “Arise O’ Compatriots,” while the reintroduced national anthem starts with, “Nigeria, we hail thee.”
As of the time of filing this report, it remains unclear why the Nigerian President and members of the Federal Executive Council recited the old anthem instead of the officially reintroduced version.
WATCH: Confusion As President Tinubu, Ministers Recite Old National Anthem At FEC Meeting pic.twitter.com/bSuOiWGIRy
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The incident has generated questions because the Tinubu administration signed into law legislation restoring “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the country’s national anthem in 2024, replacing “Arise, O Compatriots,” which had been in use for several decades.
In June 2024, SaharaReporters reported that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) released the standardised version of the reintroduced national anthem to ensure uniformity in its rendition across government institutions, schools and public events.
Before then, the agency had assured Nigerians that it would issue a standardised version of the anthem after consultations with “stakeholders,” saying the move was necessary to avoid different versions being used in official settings.
Earlier, in May 2024, SaharaReporters reported that President Bola Tinubu gave his assent to the National Anthem Bill 2024, reverting the country to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee.”
The bill was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly before being transmitted to the President for his signature.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the development during a joint sitting of the National Assembly held to mark the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
Akpabio disclosed that the special session was primarily convened to formally unveil the restored national anthem. He also informed lawmakers that President Tinubu would not deliver an address at the event because he was scheduled to leave immediately afterwards to inaugurate the Abuja Metro Line.
Since its reintroduction, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” has been adopted for official government ceremonies, while ministries, departments and agencies have been expected to comply with the new directive.
However, the rendition of the old anthem during the latest cabinet meeting has raised fresh questions over the circumstances surrounding the choice, with no official explanation yet provided by the Presidency as of the time of this report.
