Victor Umeh: Reintroduced national anthem will help build a just nation

Victor Umeh, senator representing Anambra central in the upper legislative chamber, says the new national anthem would entrench a just nation. 

On May 29, President Bola Tinubu enacted the legislation that returned the old national anthem themed: ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’.

Umeh said the new anthem is a prayer to God to help build a nation where nobody is oppressed.

Speaking on ‘The Morning Show’, an Arise TV programme, on Thursday, the lawmaker said reverting to the old national anthem would not hurt anyone.

“Reverting to the old national anthem is not hurting anybody,” Umeh said.

“We have had our national anthem for 46 years: ‘Arise O Compatriots’. That we are going back to the one that is critical to the life of our nation is not bad.

“Stanza three of the new anthem which speaks about helping those oppressed is very critical to our nation today.

“Those who made the old national anthem knew over time that there must be the tendency of people dominating others and oppressing them along the line.

“So, we put it as a prayer to God to help us build a just nation where no man is oppressed.

“Many people and minorities are oppressed in Nigeria today.”