The House of Representatives passed for a second reading a bill proposing the reinstatement of Nigeria’s old national anthem.
Leading the debate, Julius Ihonvbere, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized the need for patriotism and nationalism as reasons for reverting to the old anthem.
However, opposition arose from Peoples Democratic Party member Chinda, who argued that the old anthem is a colonial relic unsuitable for post-independence Nigeria.
His view was backed by Ahmad Satomi, representing Jere Federal Constituency, Borno State.
Conversely, Ahmed Jaha, another lawmaker from Borno, supported the bill, contending that the current anthem’s lyrics lack substantive relevance to Nigeria’s affairs.