The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, and his supporters have come under fire for singing the old national anthem at a party event in Lagos.
Obi and his supporters reportedly sang the former national anthem, Arise, O Compatriots, during a town hall meeting in Lagos on Thursday, despite its replacement by the current national anthem, Nigeria, We Hail Thee, following an Act of the National Assembly.
The action has continued to attract widespread condemnation, with prominent Nigerians accusing the NDC candidate and his supporters of disrespecting the country’s laws and national symbols.
Among those who have criticised the development are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi.
NDC candidate unfit for national leadership – Presidency
Ajayi, in a reaction posted on his Facebook page, questioned Obi’s suitability to lead the country, arguing that a presidential aspirant should not participate in an act that disregards an existing law.
He expressed surprise that someone seeking to become Nigeria’s president would join a gathering to sing an anthem that had been officially replaced by an Act of Parliament.
According to the presidential aide, ‘No person seeking to be President of Nigeria should join supporters to do such. Peter Obi should have insisted on the right national anthem. Leadership is about staying firm on what is right, showing and leading the way, not about pandering.
‘In a charged political atmosphere, supporters can get over themselves, but leadership demands that a man seeking to be President insist on what is right.’
While not making a case for Obi, he alluded to a similar act in the United States of America when a former Senator, John McCain, faced a similar situation of unruly and ungoverned behaviour by supporters during a town hall meeting in 2008, and shut down a supporter who called to question the citizenship and religion of Barack Obama, his main challenger.
Ajayi stated further that Senator McCain could have taken the easy and more convenient road of allowing a misguided supporter to take a jibe at his opponent. ‘He took a higher moral ground and didn’t yield the floor to a conspiracy theorist at his campaign event. He demonstrated dignity, decency, and strong leadership expected of a leader.
‘Mr Obi should not have allowed any kind of assault on the sovereignty and identity of a country he seeks to govern.’
‘National Anthem is not a matter of pick and choose’
A Facebook user going by the name Law Parlour was of the view that the National Anthem is not a matter of pick and choose.
‘We saw the video where the NDC, alongside its supporters, used the old national anthem, Arise, O Compatriots, rather than the new national anthem, Nigeria, We Hail Thee, during their town hall meeting in Lagos.
‘Even Peter Obi was seen participating in the singing of the old anthem.
‘The national anthem is not a matter of pick and choose. You cannot wake up tomorrow and decide which national anthem you prefer simply because you don’t like the one currently recognised by law.’
Law Parlour reminded Obi and his supporters that on May 29, 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Act 2024 into law, officially restoring ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ as Nigeria’s national anthem.
According to him, ‘Section 1 of the National Anthem Act 2024 recognises Nigeria, ‘We Hail Thee’ as the national anthem.
‘Section 2 recognises the national anthem as a national symbol and requires individuals and corporate bodies to respect it and preserve its dignity.
‘Section 5 requires persons present to stand and conduct themselves respectfully when the national anthem is performed or sung.’
He stated further that while there was nothing wrong in disagreeing with the decision to restore the old independence anthem, and even prefer ‘Arise, O Compatriots,’ but that does not change the law.
‘The National Assembly has the power to amend the law, and until that happens, Nigeria, ‘We Hail Thee’ remains our national anthem.
‘You cannot selectively obey the laws of a country you intend to govern.
‘The national anthem is not a matter of personal preference,’ he said.
Obi’s anthem snub shows he’s lawless, divisive- Wike
Also reacting, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Friday accused the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, of lawlessness and attempting to divide the country, following his alleged refusal to stand for the Nigerian national anthem at a public event.
Wike said Obi’s action, particularly his decision to stand when an alternative anthem was played, showed that he did not believe in Nigeria and should not be trusted with the country’s presidency.
The minister spoke at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State, organised by the Rainbow Coalition to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.
Addressing traditional rulers, community leaders, youths and party faithful, Wike said a presidential aspirant who disregarded the country’s national symbols could not be trusted to uphold its unity.
He said: ‘A whole national anthem of a country is being sung. A man who wants to be President of Nigeria would disobey and sit down. And then, not only that, when a different national anthem that is not being used for Nigeria was sung, he stood up.
‘In a way, he does not belong to this country. In a way, he has said he does not belong to this country; that if you give him the presidency, he would do a different thing that will divide Nigeria.
‘A man who does not believe in Nigeria, someone who derives joy in ridiculing the country by disrespecting its symbolic national anthem, must not be allowed to come near the presidency of our country’.
Wike also faulted Obi’s political history, accusing him of abandoning political parties whenever internal disagreements arose instead of remaining to resolve them.
He further criticised the former Anambra governor for failing to conduct local government elections throughout his eight-year tenure, describing it as inconsistent with his professed commitment to the rule of law.
The FCT minister also criticised the opposition coalition involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
He questioned their records in public office, citing the condition of seaports during Amaechi’s tenure as Minister of Transportation.
He also accused the former governor of demolishing Government Secondary School, Ogu, without rebuilding it and failing to fulfil promises to construct a 1,000-bed specialist hospital.
Wike urged the people to disregard what he described as the ‘big grammar’ of opposition politicians on television, insisting that the Tinubu administration had delivered tangible development to Ogu-Bolo.
He cited the construction of the Ogu-Bolo Civic Centre, facilitated through the federal appointment of an indigene, Boma Iyaye, and the conduct of local government elections as evidence of the administration’s commitment to the area.
He urged the people to support Tinubu’s re-election, Kingsley Chinda’s governorship ambition and all APC candidates seeking National Assembly seats.
Earlier, the council chairman, Vincent Nemieboka, said the meeting brought together key stakeholders, including traditional rulers, Community Development Committee (CDC) executives, youth and women leaders, and elders.
He said the council’s support for Wike was based on projects executed in the area and political appointments secured for its indigenes.
‘I will not be boasting if I say you should consider everybody here as your supporter.
‘Considering the volume of things, projects and appointments you have implemented in this local government area, we will be glad to welcome you always, support you always and follow you always,’ he said.
The Amanyanabo of Bolo, King Acheseinimie Frank, also commended Wike, citing infrastructure projects executed in the area through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
He listed ongoing sand-filling projects, internal road construction in Ogu-Bolo and the construction and maintenance of the Kira-Ogu-Bolo Road as evidence of development in the area.
The monarch said Ogu-Bolo had also benefited from three major political appointments facilitated through Wike’s office, assuring the minister of the community’s continued support.
The Chairman of the Ogu Divisional Council of Chiefs, Chief Lawrence Abeabiari, reaffirmed the traditional institution’s support for the Rainbow Coalition, promising that the people would deliver votes for its candidates and those of the APC.
He disclosed that two prominent infrastructure projects in the area had been named after Wike in recognition of his contributions.
They are Wike Road at Enelechi Phase One and the Wike Sandfield.
‘Your Excellency, go home and sleep. Without doubt, by noon on January 16, 2027, all candidates will be delivered,’ he said.
Also speaking on behalf of Ogu-Bolo stakeholders, Prof. Lucky Worika commended Wike for what he described as his developmental contributions and political empowerment of indigenes of the area.
He described the minister’s visit as a milestone in political cooperation and mutual development, adding that Wike’s tenure as Rivers State governor and his current position in Abuja had increased the area’s visibility and federal presence.
Worika thanked Tinubu and Wike for facilitating appointments for indigenes, particularly Boma Iyaye as Executive Director, Finance and Administration, of the NDDC; Dame Maureen Tamuno as Managing Director of the Abuja Investment Company; and Senator George Sekibo as Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas.
He said Iyaye’s position at the NDDC had facilitated 19 major interventions across the local government area.
The projects, according to him, include the reconstruction of Ogu General Hospital, alongside a 70kVA solar power station; the Ele/Opu-ama Link Road; the Kira-Bolo Road; internal roads and streetlights in Ogu and Bolo.
Others are sand-filling projects, low-cost housing estates, teachers’ quarters in secondary schools across Ogu, Bolo and Wakama-Ama, scholarships, free medical outreaches and youth skills acquisition programmes.
Worika also recalled projects executed in the area during Wike’s tenure as governor and his earlier stint as Minister of State for Education.
They include the reconstruction of Government Secondary School, Ogu; Kira Bridge; Ogu-Eteo and Ogu-Wakama link roads; and a landing jetty in Ele community.
He also cited the elevation of the traditional stools of Ogu and Bolo to first- and second-class status, respectively.
Through Wike’s earlier intervention at the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Worika said, the area also benefited from the renovation of Community Primary School, Ikpo-Ama, and the construction of the facility now housing Command Science Secondary School, Ogu.
While acknowledging the area’s maritime, agricultural and tourism potential, he drew the minister’s attention to challenges confronting riverine communities, including limited access to healthcare, potable water, electricity and maritime transportation, as well as environmental concerns.
He urged Wike to use his influence at the federal level to attract more development projects to the area.