THE SPIRIT OF THE LETTER OF THE OLD READOPTED NATIONAL ANTHEM OF NIGERIA” BY AYODELE SAMUEL ADEPITAN ESQ.
The Old Nigeria’s National Anthem Bill was assented to on 29th May 2024 a day that marked 25th years of uninterrupted Democracy by the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR resulting to some Nigerians ventilating their displeasure at this new idea especially the swiftness in passing it into law.
The title of the Old National Anthem is “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” which was originally adopted and used from independence in 1960 until 1978.
“Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was adopted as Nigeria’s first national anthem on October 1, 1960. The anthem’s lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria when it achieved independence. Frances Berda composed the music for “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”[1]
The lyrics go thus:
“Nigeria we hail thee
Our own dear native land
Though tribes and tongue may differ
In brotherhood we stand
Nigerians all, are proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign
In peace or battle honour’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
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 shall be blessed.”
The letter of the spirit of the Old National Anthem from the first stanza down to the third stanza goes a long way to make Nigeria and Nigerians know the true foundation wherein we originated from because it is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea to the south in the Atlantic Ocean. It covers an area of 923,769 square kilometres (356,669 sq mi); with a population of over 230 million, it is the most populous country in Africa and the world’s sixth-most populous country. Nigeria borders Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west. Nigeria is a federal republic comprising 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, where the capital, Abuja, is located. The largest city in Nigeria is Lagos, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world and the largest in Africa. [2].
In the lyrics of the Old National Anthem, Nigeria is our native land where we all came from with numerous tribes with over 250 ethnic groups and over 500 distinct languages which includes: Abayon -Cross River, Abua (Odual) –Rivers, Achipa (Achipawa) –Kebbi, Adim -Cross River, Adun -Cross River, Affade –Yobe, Afizere –Plateau, Afo –Plateau, Agbo -Cross River, Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk) -Cross River, Akweya-Yachi –Benue, Alago (Arago) –Piateau, Amo–Plateau, Anaguta –Plateau, Anang –Akwa lbom, Andoni –Akwalbom, Rivers, Angas –Bauchi, Jigawa, Plateau, Ankwei –Plateau, Anyima -Cross River, Attakar (ataka) –Kaduna, Auyoka(Auyokawa) –Jigawa, Awori -Lagos, Ogun, Ayu –Kaduna, Babur -Adamawa, Bomo, Taraba, Yobe, Bachama –Adamawa, Bachere -Cross River, Bada –Plateau, Bade –Yobe, Bahumono -Cross River, Bakulung –Taraba, Bali –Taraba, Bambora (Bambarawa) –Bauchi, Bambuko –Taraba, Banda (Bandawa) –Taraba, Banka (Bankalawa) –Bauchi, Banso (Panso) –Adamawa, Bara (Barawa) –Bauchi, Barke–Bauchi, Baruba (Barba) –Niger, Bashiri (Bashirawa) –Plateau, Bassa -Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Batta –Adamawa, Baushi –Niger, Baya –Adamawa, Bekwarra -Cross River, Bele (Buli, Belewa) –Bauchi, Betso (Bete) –Taraba, Bette -Cross River, Bilei –Adamawa, Bille –Adamawa, Bina (Binawa) –Kaduna, Bini –Edo, Birom –Plateau, Bobua –Taraba, Boki (Nki) -Cross River, Bkkos –Plateau, Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa) –Niger, Bole (Bolewa) –Bauchi, Yobe, Botlere –Adamawa, Boma (Bomawa, Burmano) –Bauchi, Bomboro –Bauchi, Buduma –Borno, Niger, Buji –Plateau, Buli –Bauchi, Bunu –Kogi, Bura –Adamawa, Burak –Bauchi, Burma (Burmawa) –Plateau, Buru –Yobe, Buta (Butawa) –Bauchi, Bwall –Plateau, Bwatiye –Adamawa, Bwazza –Adamawa, Challa –Plateau, Chama (Chamawa Fitilai) –Bauchi, Chamba –Taraba, Chamo –Bauchi, Chibok (Chibbak) –Yobe, Chinine –Borno, Chip –Plateau, Chokobo –Plateau, Chukkol –Taraba, Daba –Adamawa, Dadiya –Bauchi, Daka –Adamawa, Dakarkari -Niger, Kebbi, Danda(Dandawa) –Kebbi, Dangsa –Taraba, Daza (Dere, Derewa) –Bauchi, Degema –Rivers, Deno (Denawa) –Bauchi, Dghwede –Bomo, Diba–Taraba, Doemak (Dumuk) –Plateau, Ouguri –Bauchi, Duka(Dukawa) –Kebbi, Duma (Dumawa) –Bauchi, Ebana (Ebani) –Rivers, Ebirra (lgbirra) -Edo, Kogi, Ondo, Ebu -Edo, Kogi, Efik -Cross River, Egbema –Rivers, Egede (lgedde) –Benue, Eggon –Plateau, Egun (Gu) -Lagos, Ogun, Ejagham -Cross River, Ekajuk -Cross River, Eket –Akwa Ibom, Ekoi -Cross River, Engenni (Ngene) –Rivers, Epie –Rivers, Esan (Ishan) –Edo, Etche –Rivers, Etolu(Etilo) –Benue, Etsako –Edo, Etung -Cross River, Etuno –Edo, Palli–Adamawa, Pulani (Pulbe) –Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa , Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, etc., Fyam (Fyem) –Plateau, Fyer (Fer) –Plateau, Ga’anda –Adamawa, Gade –Niger, Galambi –Bauchi, Gamergu-Mulgwa –Borno, Qanawuri –Plateau, Gavako –Borno, Gbedde –Kogi, Gengle –Taraba, Geji –Bauchi, Gera (Gere, Gerawa) –Bauchi, Geruma (Gerumawa) –Plateau, Geruma (Gerumawa) –Bauchi, Gingwak –Bauchi, Gira –Adamawa, Gizigz –Adamawa, Goernai –Plateau, Gokana (Kana) –Rivers, Gombi –Adamawa, Gornun (Gmun) –Taraba, Gonia –Taraba, Gubi(Gubawa) –Bauchi, Gude –Adamawa, Gudu –Adamawa, Gure –Kaduna, Gurmana –Niger, Gururntum –Bauchi, Gusu –Plateau, Gwa (Gurawa) –Adamawa, Gwamba Adamawa, Gwandara -Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Gwari (Gbari) -Kaduna, Niger, Abuja, Plateau, Gwom –Taraba, Gwoza (Waha) –Borno, Gyem –Bauchi, Hausa: –Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna,Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Niger,Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara etc., Higi (Hig) –Borno, Adamawa, Holma –Adamawa, Hona –Adamawa, Ibeno –Akwa lbom, Ibibio –Akwa lbom, Ichen –Adamawa, Idoma -Benue, Taraba, Igala –Kogi, lgbo: –Abia, Anambra, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers, ljumu –Kogi, Ikorn -Cross River, Irigwe –Plateau, Isoko –Delta, lsekiri (Itsekiri) –Delta, lyala (lyalla) -Cross River, lzondjo –Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Rivers, Jaba –Kaduna, Jahuna (Jahunawa) –Taraba, Jaku –Bauchi, Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse) –Bauchi, Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa) –Bauchi, Plateau, Jero –Taraba, Jibu –Adamawa, Jidda-Abu –Plateau, Jimbin (Jimbinawa) –Bauchi, Jirai –Adamawa, Jonjo (Jenjo) –Taraba, Jukun –Bauchi, Benue,Taraba, Plateau, Kaba (Kabawa) –Taraba, Kadara –Taraba, Kafanchan –Kaduna, Kagoro –Kaduna, Kaje (Kache) –Kaduna, Kajuru(Kajurawa) –Kaduna, Kaka –Adamawa, Kamaku (Karnukawa) -Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Kambari –Kebbi, Niger, Kambu –Adamawa, Kamo –Bauchi, Kanakuru (Dera) -Adamawa, Borno, Kanembu –Borno, Kanikon –Kaduna, Kantana –Plateau, Kanuri -Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno, Kano,Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, Karekare (Karaikarai) –Bauchi, Yobe, Karimjo –Taraba, Kariya –Bauchi, Katab (Kataf) –Kaduna, Kenern (Koenoem) –Plateau, Kenton –Taraba, Kiballo (Kiwollo) –Kaduna, Kilba –Adamawa, Kirfi (Kirfawa) –Bauchi, Koma –Taraba, Kona –Taraba, Koro(Kwaro) -Kaduna, Niger, Kubi (Kubawa) –Bauchi, Kudachano(Kudawa) –Bauchi, Kugama –Taraba, Kulere (Kaler) –Plateau, Kunini –Taraba, Kurama –Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Kurdul –Adamawa, Kushi –Bauchi, Kuteb –Taraba, Kutin –Taraba, Kwalla –Plateau, Kwami (Kwom) –Bauchi, Kwanchi –Taraba, Kwanka(Kwankwa) –Bauchi, Plateau, Kwaro –Plateau, Kwato –Plateau, Kyenga (Kengawa) –Sokoto, Laaru (Larawa) –Niger, Lakka –Adamawa, Lala –Adamawa, Lama –Taraba, Lamja –Taraba, Lau –Taraba, Ubbo –Adamawa, Limono –Bauchi, Plateau, Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa) –Niger, Longuda (Lunguda) -Adamawa, Bauchi, Mabo –Plateau, Mada -Kaduna, Plateau, Mama –Plateau, Mambilla -Adamawa, Manchok –Kaduna, Mandara (Wandala) –Borno, Manga (Mangawa) –Yobe, Margi (Marghi) -Adamawa, Borno, Matakarn –Adamawa, Mbembe -Cross River, Enugu, Mbol –Adamawa, Mbube-Cross River, Mbula –Adamawa, Mbum –Taraba, Memyang(Meryan) –Plateau, Miango –Plateau, Miligili (Migili) –Plateau, Miya (Miyawa) –Bauchi, Mobber –Borno, Montol –Plateau, Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa) –Kaduna, Muchaila –Adamawa, Mumuye –Taraba, Mundang –Adamawa, Munga (Mupang) –Plateau, Mushere –Plateau, Mwahavul (Mwaghavul) –Plateau, Ndoro –Taraba, Ngamo –Bauchi, Yobe, Ngizim –Yobe, Ngweshe(Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang) -Adamawa, Borno, Ningi (Ningawa) –Bauchi, Ninzam (Ninzo) -Kaduna, Plateau, Njayi –Adamawa, Nkim-Cross River, Nkum -Cross River, Nokere (Nakere) –Plateau, Nunku -Kaduna, Plateau, Nupe –Niger, Nyandang –Taraba, OdodopCross River, Ogori –Kwara, Okobo (Okkobor) –Akwa lbom, Okpamheri –Edo, Olulumo -Cross River, Oron –Akwa lbom, Owan–Edo, Owe –Kwara, Oworo –Kwara, Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa) –Bauchi, Pai –Plateau, Panyam –Taraba, Pero –Bauchi, Pire –Adamawa, Pkanzom –Taraba, Poll –Taraba, Polchi Habe –Bauchi, Pongo(Pongu) –Niger, Potopo –Taraba, Pyapun (Piapung) –Plateau, Qua -Cross River, Rebina (Rebinawa) –Bauchi, Reshe –Kebbi, Niger, Rindire (Rendre) –Plateau, Rishuwa –Kaduna, Ron –Plateau, Rubu–Niger, Rukuba –Plateau, Rumada –Kaduna, Rumaya –Kaduna, Sakbe –Taraba, Sanga –Bauchi, Sate –Taraba, Saya (Sayawa Za’ar) –Bauchi, Segidi (Sigidawa) 
Bauchi, Shanga (Shangawa) –Sokoto, Shangawa (Shangau) –Plateau, Shan-Shan –Plateau, Shira (Shirawa) –Kano, Shomo –Taraba, Shuwa -Adamawa, Borno, Sikdi –Plateau, Siri (Sirawa) –Bauchi, Srubu (Surubu) –Kaduna, Sukur –Adamawa, Sura –Plateau, Tangale –Bauchi, Tarok -Plateau, Taraba, Teme –Adamawa, Tera (Terawa) –Bauchi, Bomo, Teshena (Teshenawa) –Kano, Tigon –Adamawa, Tikar –Taraba, Tiv -Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Nasarawa, Tula –Bauchi, Tur –Adamawa, Ufia –Benue, Ukelle -Cross River, Ukwani (Kwale) –Delta, Uncinda -Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Uneme (Ineme) –Edo, Ura (Ula) –Niger, Urhobo –Delta, Utonkong –Benue, Uyanga -Cross River, Vemgo –Adamawa, Verre –Adamawa, Vommi –Taraba, Wagga –Adamawa, Waja –Bauchi, Waka –Taraba, Warja (Warja) –Jigawa, Warji –Bauchi, Wula –Adamawa, Wurbo –Adamawa, Wurkun –Taraba, Yache -Cross River, Yagba –Kwara, Yakurr (Yako) -Cross River, Yalla –Benue, Yandang –Taraba, Yergan (Yergum) –Plateau, Yoruba -(Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi), Yott –Taraba, Yumu –Niger, Yungur –Adamawa, Yuom –Plateau, Zabara –Niger, Zaranda –Bauchi, Zarma (Zarmawa) –Kebbi, Zayam (Zeam) –Bauchi, and Zul (Zulawa) –Bauchi [3]
There is uniqueness in the name Nigeria and little do I wonder as to the prosperity that follows suit. The various tribes we have speaks volume as being united, patriotic and work in unity “Though tribes and tongue may differ but In brotherhood we stand”, no matter where we come from. Ours is to believe and serve our motherland and fatherland just as the Old Anthem posited.
As a Legal Practitioner and ministers in the temple of Justice,we are saddled with the responsibility of upholding justice especially when the odds is against us, and this Old Anthem truly addresses that to wit truth and justice shall reign. When truth and justice reigns in a country, there will be absolute confidence in the judiciary by the populace and this is how a nation can be built where no man is oppressed and there will be peace and tranquility.Nigeria and Nigerians shall forsooth be blessed.
There is no point in disputing the fact that when truth and justice reigns in a land, it often leads to lots of positive outcomes, including fairness (…where no matter the status and background of a citizen, they would be treated equally under the law); trust (when this happen, it lead to stability from the populace to the government of the day); transparency; economic growth; human rights; accountability (wherein, leaders at the helm of affairs would be held accountable for their actions); peace and stability, and corruption reduction respectively.
Seeing our nation succeed should be the ultimate goal of every citizen and this can be achieved by us being motivated at all costs serving our motherland despite all odds and in return by leaders giving back to the society through good governance and more.
Let us be motivated to believe in our native land for a new dawn has come.
Nigeria I hail thee!
Ayodele Samuel Adepitan Esq. writes from NBA Bwari.
