By Joel Okwara
The House of Representatives on Thursday, May 23, passed a bill proposing that the country return to reciting the old National Anthem.
The bill, which was sponsored by the Leader of the House, Julius Ihonvbere, was passed for second and third reading during plenary in Abuja.
The bill will be sent to the Senate for concurrence before being sent to the President for assent.
Below is the Three Stanzas of the old National Anthem: ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’:
“Nigeria we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though tribe and tongue may differ,
In brotherhood we stand,
Nigerians all, and 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 may be blessed.”
