•Protesters
Protesters across several states in the nation took to the streets today, to express their discontent at the economic hardship and growing hunger
In all of this, these aggrieved demonstrators decided to drive their point home by reciting the old national anthem “Arise O Compatriots”, reports Channels TV.
Tagged #EndbadGovernanceinNigeria, the protest movement won support with an online campaign, but officials had warned against attempts to replicate recent violent demonstrations in Kenya, where protesters forced the government to abandon new taxes.
President Tinubu, who signed the bill to change the national anthem to a new national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, on May 29, 2024, justified his reasons for changing the anthem by stating that it fosters harmony and unity among the citizenry.
“As long as we are Nigerians and one family, we remain and protect our diversity and love one another as brothers and sisters,” Tinubu said.
However, in Port Harcourt, protesters filled the streets chanting the old national anthem in a stirring expression of their dissatisfaction with the current state of the nation.
They argued that the ”original anthem”, despite being replaced, better reflects their struggles and aspirations.
Similarly, in Lagos, protesters in Ojota joined forces with their southern counterparts, emphasising a nationwide sentiment that ”Nigeria We Hail Thee” does not reflect the people’s identity or current realities.
Many Nigerians are divided, over the role of the new anthem in bringing a seemingly fractionated closer.
As the protest continues, the nation watches closely to see how this symbolic action will impact the broader socio-political landscape of Nigeria.
