By Perpetua Onuegbu, NAN
Mr Chris Ochayi, publisher of New Era newspaper (online) says the reverted National Anthem by President Bola Tinubu administration is to bring back the lost glory of Nigeria.
Ochayi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
According to him, the most significant thing about going back to the past in reverting to the old National Anthem is to rediscover the lost glory of Nigeria.
“The old Nigeria where two naira is exchanged for one dollar, the glory where you can pick up your bag, go to the airport and board aeroplane to London without demands for visa just like you are flying from Sokoto to Calabar.
“That glorious old Nigeria when student in boarding school is entitled to chicken lap and half of full chicken meat on weekend.
“It’s also to bring back the Nigeria where the citizens love themselves irrespective of religion or geographical locations you might have hailed from. The past glory of oneness,” Ochayi said.
Comparing the two athens, Ochayi maintained that there was no comparison between the two.
“There is no comparison to the reintroduced, now new National Anthem “Nigeria we hail thee”.
“The most significant in this anthem is that, it puts the country Nigeria in the cycle of life, which goes to portray vividly that Nigeria is alive and living.
“Why do you hail? You hail somebody who is alive and making significant impact in your life. When you hail, it will become more productive and you reaping from the productivity becomes prosperous.
“The country is blessed with so many material resources and the more you hail it the more resources it produces to the benefit of the people (Nigerians).”
Explaining further on the difference between the reintroduced anthem and the discarded one he said the reintroduced anthem started with a commendation and compliment of sort, the discarded one begins with agitation.
“Agitation connotes troubles . “Arise o’ compatriots” placed the country in the realm of struggles and challenges which is the clear picture of what the country has being going through.
“While the discarded anthem puts the country outside the realm of God almighty, the reintroduced anthem placed utmost hope in prayers and the power of God.
“Almost all of stanza four was devoted to God and seeking His face to get things done correctly. Whereas the discarded one has no where the name of God is mentioned, I think that is the reason Nigeria experienced tribulation since 1978.
“I think the “O God of all creation,
Grant this our one request,
Help us to build a nation “
“Is the possible difference the new anthem should make on the psyche of Nigerians.”
The publisher expressed optimism that the reverted national anthem would appeal to Nigerians consciously and unconsciously the power of God in the life of the country that would bring positive change.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu signed into law on May 29 during the one year anniversary of his administration the reversion to the old national anthem that was discarded by the military regime in 1978. (NAN)