Why a return to Nigeria’s original national anthem is necessary – ZLP

The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has expressed support for the National Assembly’s decision to repeal the current national anthem and revert to Nigeria’s original anthem.

The national chairman of the party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, expressed the party’s support and approval for the national assembly’s decision at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday.

He noted that the original national anthem evokes a better sense of patriotism among Nigerians than the military-imposed anthem currently in use.

Nwanyanwu said, “I congratulate the National Assembly for passing the bill to repeal the current National Anthem and revert to the original National Anthem, which commenced with the independence of Nigeria on October 1st, 1960.

“I feel vindicated by this noble act of the 10th National Assembly, which was in complete consonance with my presidential manifesto for the 2023 presidential election, where I vigorously canvassed for the return of Nigeria’s original national anthem.

“What the National Assembly has done has not only proved that it is sensitive to the yeaning of the people, but it’s also abundantly clear that there was no justifiable reason to have tampered with the 1960 National Anthem of Nigeria to the extent of replacing it with a meaningless anthem that makes mockery of Nigeria’s diversity and yearning for unity.

“The national anthem of a country is so symbolic that it becomes strange that when Military adventurists without any form of consultation or logic, repealed Nigeria’s cherished national anthem by military fiat.

“Many countries of the world have retained their national anthem for several centuries as long as they existed as a nation.

“Nigeria, unfortunately, has become a guinea pig that everything is experimented on without a convincing reason.

“The 1960 National Anthem of Nigeria touches the very core of our diversity, and religious complexities.

“That National Anthem evokes emotions and the call for a United Nigeria where equity justice will reign supreme, with no citizen oppressed and a section being preponderant over others with clear equality of citizens.

“These are the reasons I gave when I canvassed for reverting to the original National Anthem.

“its leadership for their courage and patriotism in this regard.

“I join all well-meaning Nigerians in commending the National Assembly.

“I urge Mr. President to waste no time assenting to this bill without delay, and history will record the enactment of this landmark Act to his credit.”