Entertainment
‘I Will Miss – Arise, O Compatriots’ – Singer Teni Reacts As Nigeria Returns To Old National Anthem
Renowned Nigerian female musician, Teniola Apata, professionally known as Teni, has reacted to the recent bill signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to revert to the nation’s old national anthem.
Recall that the Nigerian leader, on Wednesday, May 29, signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law to reinstate the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
The development has generated mixed reactions among Nigerians. Teni has since joined the list of Nigerians expressing their thoughts about changing the national anthem.
Teni, in a post via her official X handle, expressed that she would miss the replaced National Anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots.”
According to her, she made so many childhood memories with the former anthem.
The singer wrote: “Arise o compatriots, I’ll miss you, thank you for so many childhood memories. till
we meet again, love SM.”
Nation Post understands that ‘Arise, O compatriots’ was adopted as Nigeria’s National Anthem in 1978.
The National Anthem Bill 2024, signed into law by President Tinubu, has officially replaced ‘Arise, O compatriots’ with the old anthem ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ as Nigeria’s National Anthem.
The lyrics were composed by John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B. A. Ogunnaike, Sota Omoigui, and P. O. Aderibigbe. The anthem was performed by the Nigeria Police Band under the directorship of B. E. Odiasse.
