Methinks, Nigeria's old anthem sang from October 1960 to 1978 celebrated the understanding of our pluralistic identities but oneness in diversity, Nigeria being the allocated name for our collective entity. It celebrated the flag, not on economic prowess but truth and justice in victory and defeat, with an unstained inheritance for the coming generation. The last stanza finished gloriously with supreme allocation to God and the sanctity of every individual thereby bringing peace and plenty to the Nation.
The new, although tried with struggle to echo some of the wordings, but I think, it celebrated individualism while shadowing our diversity, which we can not run away from. It seemed to be seeking for a hero among the populace thereby, setting a race for ''who is or who will be the greatest? It shared the collective responsibilities on those called to serve, with the populace even a new born child, and ended with living as who you are rather than who you should be.
We have to come back to the understanding that we are diverse in tribes and tongues and find a meeting point to discuss if those tribes and tongues had further differ to the point that the operation of our oneness must be discussed, but if we continue to blame the British for the forced-marriage of 1914, then we have not left December 31st, 1959.
Maybe, we should go back to the old anthem because it makes more sense, and considering that the same man, obviously, representing the cabal, that has had it's cover open now, and who called and approved the new anthem, started the destruction of sanity in a blessed Nation.
The Anthems are presented:
NIGERIA, WE HAIL THEE!
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
And this we count as gain
To pass unto 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
ARISE, O COMPATRIOTS
Arise, O Compatriots,
Nigeria’s call obey
To serve our Fatherland
With love and strength and faith
The labour of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain,
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom,
Peace and unity.
Oh God of creation,
Direct our noble cause
Guide our leaders right
Help our youth the truth to know
In love and honesty to grow
And living just and true
Great lofty heights attain
To build a nation where peace
And justice shall reign.
Comments
Post a Comment