'Is this man for real?' - Akpabio criticized for linking 1978 anthem change to banditry

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio may have incited Nigerians following a recent comment he made on the change of the national anthem.

Akpabio while speaking during a visit to the Nigerian Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) on Tuesday, June 18 opined that Nigeria might not be experiencing banditry today if the country had not changed its anthem in 1978.

Recall, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law a bill to revert to the old national athem ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’, which was dropped by a military government in 1978.

The newly re-adopted anthem, which begins “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” was written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda.

Speaking at the event, the former Akwa Ibom State governor described the recent National Anthem Bill as one of the 10th Assembly’s most appealing pieces of legislation.

The senator also noted that the Student Loan Bill was another significant bill that was passed by the Assembly.

“The bill that was sent to us by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on students’ loans and scholarships to enable Nigerian vulnerable students; the less privilege to obtain higher education,” Akpabio said.

“And as I speak to you over 30,000 Nigerian students have been selected to benefit from it. That is one of the bills I would say appeals to me the most.

“The other one on social impact is reverting to our old national anthem. A lot of people are not aware that there was a panel made up of Nigerians set up to receive input from all over the world in 1959.

“So, when people say we are bringing colonial anthem, please look into the history of the “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”.

If we kept to that anthem, we probably would not have banditry today in Nigeria, because if you took your neighbour as your brother you would not want to kill your brother, if you took your neighbour as your brother, you would not want to into the farm and behead your brother.”

His comments has generated mixed reactions on social media.

Tony_ogbo commented: Dis one go just dey talk any how

fola_richest wrote: Is this man for real or just catching cruise?

Ifeanyimichaelchima said: I don't know whether to laugh or cry for Nigeria

iam_favybankz commented: Wetin this man smoke who dey do the banditry? No be same people too?

prosper.daniels wrote: Omo we are no longer safe in this country walahi. See senate president. Goddd

snr_pablo said: See who tinubu put as senate president