The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has said that changing Nigeria’s national anthem should involve more people and groups.
News About Nigeria reports that Fagbemi made the comment while speaking before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Monday.
According to him, the decision should not be made by just the lawmakers or the president alone.
Recall that the National Assembly recently initiated the process of reverting to the old national anthem, with the House of Representatives passing the bill after its third reading, while the Senate passed it for a second reading.
However, Fagbemi cautioned that the choice of a national anthem should involve a broader citizen participation process.
He drew parallels with other African countries, saying their national anthem represents the end of colonialism.
“It is not out of place for Nigeria to be guided by the process of evolution of a national anthem in other jurisdictions,” Fagbemi said.
According to him, many former British colonies replaced “God Bless the Queen” with their own national anthems, written by their citizens.
Fagbemi advocated for a similar approach in Nigeria, involving zonal public hearings, resolutions from the Federal Executive Council, Council of State, National and State Assemblies, and other stakeholders.
He said, “The outcome of this process is bound to be a true reflection of the wishes of the generality or majority of Nigerians.”
Meanwhile, the Senate has commenced a public hearing on an Act to provide for the National Anthem of Nigeria and related matters.
According to the leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, who represented the President of the Senate at the hearing, the second stanza of the existing national anthem shall be the national prayer.
