‘Nigeria we hail thee’ would have tackled insecurity, reverting would ensure unity among Nigerians – Akpabio

Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President has said the old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” would have tackled banditry and insecurity had it been retained.

Recently, the National Assembly passed the National Anthem Bill 2024 to revert to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee”, which was abolished in 1978.

However, Akpabio said the reintroduction of the old national anthem would ensure unity and love among Nigerians.

Speaking during a visit to the Nigeria Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies in Abuja, Akpabio berated those labeling the re-introduced anthem as an element of colonialism.

According to Akpabio: “The other impactful bill signed by the National Assembly is the reverting to our old national anthem.

“A lot of people are not aware that there was a panel set up and made up of Nigerians to receive input from all over the world in 1959.

“So when people are saying we’re bringing in colonial anthem, they need to look into the history of “Nigeria, we hail thee”.

“If we had kept to that anthem, we probably would not have banditry today in Nigeria because if you take your neighbour as your brother, you will not want to kill him.”