Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili, the former Minister of Education, has declared that she would not revert to the old national anthem, newly signed by President Tinubu as the country’s new anthem.

This was revealed by Ezekwesili  in a post on her X handle on Wednesday.

As claimed by her, no one can suppress her right to dissent from what she described as an “obnoxious law” repugnant to all who are of good conscience in Nigeria.

She said, “Let it be known to all and sundry that I, Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, will, whenever asked to sing the Nigerian National Anthem, sing:

Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey

“To serve our fatherland

“With love and strength and faith

The labour of our heroes past

“Shall never be in vain

“To serve with heart and might

“One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.”

She added, “2. Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause

“Guide our leader’s right

“Help our youth the truth to know

In love and honesty to grow

“And living just and true

“Great lofty heights attain

“To build a nation where peace and justice reign.

It was earlier reported that the Senate and the House of Representatives rapidly passed the National Anthem Bill 2024, seeking to reinstate the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

Leading the debate in the lower chamber on the general principles of the bill, the sponsor of the proposed law, Julius Ihonvbere, anchored his argument on the need for patriotism and nationalism.

The 10th Senate passed the bill after reviewing a report by Tahir Monguno, the lawmaker representing Borno North Senatorial District and chair of the Judiciary Committee.