The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has raised concerns over the National Orientation Agency (NOA) circulating the wrong version of the newly adopted old National Anthem. Akpabio noted that the version being circulated by the agency differs from the New National Anthem approved by the Senate.
During a recent Senate session, Akpabio requested that the Senate recite the first stanza of the new National Anthem, and upon recitation, he observed discrepancies in the wording of the anthem. He highlighted specific differences, including the use of “though tribes and tongues” instead of “though tribe and tongue may differ,” and “Nigeria may be blessed” instead of “Nigeria shall be blessed.” These differences prompted Akpabio to call for the NOA to stop circulating the incorrect version of the National Anthem.
The Senate had passed the National Anthem Bill 2024 to revert to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee,” which was swiftly assented to by President Bola Tinubu. The bill entailed swapping the national anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” reflecting the Senate’s decision to adopt the old National Anthem.
Akpabio’s call to rectify the dissemination of the correct National Anthem emphasizes the need for accurate implementation of the 6th_[-approved anthem. The discrepancies identified by the Senate President highlight the importance of ensuring that the correct wording and version of the National Anthem are disseminated to the public and government agencies.
The discrepancies in the National Anthem, as highlighted by the Senate President, underscore the significance of ensuring accurate dissemination of the correct version of the anthem.
Akpabio’s call for the National Orientation Agency to stop circulating the incorrect version reflects the Senate’s commitment to ensuring the accurate implementation of the newly adopted old National Anthem. As the implementation process continues, it is crucial to address discrepancies and ensure uniformity in the dissemination of the correct National Anthem approved by the Senate.
