Port Harcourt, Rivers State — The rehabilitated Okocha Road in Rumuorlumeni, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, was officially inaugurated today by the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, amidst a gathering of dignitaries, politicians, and technocrats. The event, however, took an unusual turn as the Mistress of Ceremony led the audience in singing Nigeria’s obsolete national anthem at the opening ceremony, “Arise, O Compatriots,” rather than the newly reintroduced anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
The anchor, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, demonstrated professionalism in hosting the ceremony but raised eyebrows by opting for the anthem repealed earlier this year. In a controversial move on May 29, 2024, marking his administration’s first anniversary, President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill, 2024, reverting the nation’s anthem to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
President Tinubu described the reintroduced anthem as a unifying symbol of Nigeria’s diversity, saying, “The anthem reflects our characters and how we blend to become brothers and sisters.” Despite this declaration, the incident at today’s inauguration highlights the lingering gap in public adoption of the revised anthem, raising questions about the readiness of government agencies and officials to align with the change.
Governor Fubara, in his keynote address, celebrated the newly rehabilitated road as a significant milestone in his administration’s efforts to improve infrastructure across Rivers State. “This project demonstrates our commitment to fostering development that impacts the lives of our people,” the governor said.
The Rivers State Ministry of Works, in collaboration with other stakeholders, played a critical role in the successful rehabilitation of the road, which is expected to enhance connectivity and boost economic activities in the area.
While the project marks a win for the state’s infrastructure agenda, the incident with the national anthem has sparked discussions about the readiness of Nigerians to embrace the changes introduced by the Tinubu administration. Education experts and observers worry that a lack of awareness and compliance among government officials could hinder efforts to educate the public, particularly students, on the new anthem.
The lyrics of “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” reflect the values of unity, peace, and justice. The anthem’s third stanza reads:
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.
As the nation adjusts to this symbolic shift, the onus lies on governmental institutions to lead by example and ensure the successful integration of the revised anthem into official ceremonies, schools, and public consciousness.
For now, the people of Rumuorlumeni have a reason to celebrate with the improved infrastructure, but the anthem controversy underscores a broader challenge in aligning policy changes with implementation at the grassroots level.
