According to Persecondnews, the bill passed through the first, second, and third readings in just a few minutes during Thursday’s plenary.
The House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, sponsored a bill emphasizing the need for Nigerians to view the anthem as a national symbol and sign of authority that does not ignore reality.
In 1978, “Arise, O Compatriots” took the place of the previous anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
The Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, however, opposed the bill, saying the old anthem has a colonial tag, which was the reason for the new anthem.
However, the lawmakers expedited the bill’s passage and subsequently passed it.
Meanwhile, at the nation’s upper chamber – the Senate — the bill scaled first and second readings.
The Senate resolved to hold a closed-door session on Thursday to consider the bill seeking to amend the components of the Nigerian national anthem.
Persecondnews reports that the lawmakers went into a closed-door meeting at about 11:15 a.m. after the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion to that effect.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over the session, during which the senate leadership proposed reading the bill for the first time and passing it for a second reading during the plenary.
Victor Umeh, the senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, supported the bill’s hurried passage.
Umeh, a member of the Labour Party, cited Rwanda as a case study and hailed the old anthem as good drafting.
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