Rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof Mike Ozekhome, has described Nigeria’s return to the old national anthem as a welcome development.

According to him, the change of the national anthem was long overdue.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Ozekhome said he was elated by Nigeria’s return to the old national anthem, 10 years after he moved a motion for it at the 2014 National Conference.

“Bringing the old National Anthem back is well overdue. It has better lyrics in content and context, like the Senate President said. It is better than the other one,” he said.

“The name Nigeria and the flag should also be changed.”

The lawyer noted that he wrote a book which he submitted at the end of the Confab where he cited his arguments as the need for change.

He demanded that recognition and appreciation be given to the 492 delegates at the national conference and its heads.

“Indeed I wrote a book titled, ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ and it was 421 pages. It was launched at that National Conference just before it ended in 2014.

“My arguments are on pages 268 to 271. So, it didn’t start together. I think that when we finally get to Canaanland, this body should give some recognition and appreciation to the National Conference of 2014 chaired by the late Justice Legbo Kutigi with Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi as the deputy.

“Let me also say that it was not the national anthem alone that I said should be brought back. The other two matters I argue should be brought back were – the flag and country name changes – the present green and white Nigerian flag is too bland.

“It’s not just in terms of lacking in colours. It is not inspirational – compare it to that of the US with its tribes and stars representing the fifty states.

“If you look at the flag of South Africa or the UK, you’ll see what I mean. The older flag has the rising sun in the centre which shoots to all the directions of Nigeria – North, South, East and West. Look at the Norfolk flag and the AU.

“At that conference, I also moved that we change the name of Nigeria which appears to be a burden because of the circumstances it came into being January 8, 1878, when Flora Shaw gave her the name ‘Nigeria’ named after ‘Niger Area’.

“Buy both my proposal for the flag change and the name Nigeria to Airegen (spelt backwards) but both were shut down and the one of the national anthem carried,” he added partly.

The readoption of the old anthem has sparked concerns among Nigerians.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the National Anthem Bill 2024, into law to reinstate the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

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