Omokri, however, noted, “I do NOT support the policy of changing a National Anthem written by a collective of Nigerians for one written by a foreigner”
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former Presidential aide and social media influencer, Reno Omokri has accused former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili of committing treasonable offence and exhibiting a high level of irresponsibility.
He made this known on his X page recently, saying Ezekwesili showed bad example to Nigerian youths by backing the likes of popular activist, Aisha Yesufu who recently refused to recite the re-introduced national anthem.
In a trending video on social media, Yesufu was seen sitting while others were standing and singing the anthem at an event. She later took to her X handle and wrote: “NotMyNationalAnthem.”
Ezekwesili, who has also been against the national anthem, then supported the move in a post on her official X page.
She tweeted: “@AishaYesufu, Definitely #NotMyNationalAnthem as I already publicly conveyed.
“In my case, whenever and wherever the National Anthem is called for, I shall continue to sing #AriseOCompatriots as #MyNationalAnthem.”
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Condemning Ezekwesili’s action, Omokri posted on X: “Oby Ezekwesili is being very irresponsible and showing a very bad example to our youths by saying that the new National Anthem is #NotMyNationalAnthem, and she will not recognise it. That is simply an act of treason against Nigeria, especially as she encourages others to follow her example.
“I do NOT support the policy of changing a National Anthem written by a collective of Nigerians for one written by a foreigner. I think it is misguided and a relic of the colonial mentality that makes us subject to imperialism. I agree with Oby that the replaced anthem is better, in my opinion, than the new one.
“Nevertheless, I am a patriotic Nigerian. And until and unless people like me are able to persuade the Federal Government to see the wisdom in supporting a homegrown anthem over a foreign one, and revert to the Arise O Compatriots’ National Anthem of 1978, I will honour, respect, and stand up whenever the National Anthem, ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ Is sung.
“I do not support the anthem, but I support Nigeria and, like every Nigerian, I took an oath to be faithful, loyal and honest to Nigeria. When we respect the National Anthem, we are not respecting President Tinubu or the All Progressives Congress. We are respecting Nigeria. If we pick and choose which laws to obey in Nigeria, according to our political affiliations, then Nigeria will dissolve into anarchy. Is that what Oby Ezekwesili wants.”
