Popular singer Teniola Apata, known as Teni, has expressed her feelings about the recent change to Nigeria’s national anthem.
According to Drivetvnews, President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law on Wednesday to restore the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
In response, Teni mentioned that she would miss the replaced National Anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” with which she shared many childhood memories.
On her X handle, Teni wrote: “Arise o compatriots, I’ll miss you, thank you for so many childhood memories. till
we meet again, love SM.”
‘Arise, O compatriots’ was adopted as Nigeria’s National Anthem in 1978, with lyrics 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 direction of B. E. Odiasse.
With the signing of the National Anthem Bill 2024 by President Tinubu, ‘Arise, O compatriots’ has officially been replaced by the old anthem, ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ as Nigeria’s National Anthem.