The song “Arise O” Compatriots” took the place of the previous anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which was written upon Nigeria’s independence on October 1, 1960.
The senators overwhelmingly supported the bill that Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) sponsored. The lawmakers who supported the initiative contended that it would replace the current symbol for unity, peace, and prosperity with a more fitting one.
The parliamentarians stated that the independence anthem, which embodies the nation’s ideals, ethics, and conventions, ought to take precedence over the present national anthem as it was a creation of the military junta and was ordered by the military.
Lillian Jean Williams, a British citizen living in Nigeria before independence, wrote the lyrics for “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” while Frances Berda composed the music. The anthem significantly shaped Nigeria’s national identity and unity during the 1960s and late 1970s.
Here is the anthem below:
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’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.
We have more pressing issues in Nigeria now and I personally feel that National Anthem is not paramount at this crucial time.
Live with Purpose, Love with Passion. Remember to be happy
One ❤️❤️❤️
Rose Ajieh
