A Non-Governmental Organization – the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria has reacted to the bill passed by the Nigerian Senate to revert the Nation back to the old Nigerian National Anthem of 1960.
In press statement on Tuesday,the group described the decision as hasty, unpopular and lacked the required of support vast majority of Nigerians.
The Muslim Media Watch Group also described the matter as a misplaced priority adding that Nigerian Senate ought to give issue of such national importance wider consideration and contribution of citizens before resolution was made.
The press statement which was jointly signed by its National Coordinator Mal. Ibrahim Abdullahi and the National Secretary Dr. Nasir Balogun aligned its views with that of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, that the issue of National Anthem is beyond what National Assembly members could decide upon in their hallows chambers after public hearing; pointing out that wider stakeholders such matured Nigerian citizens, old and young male and females as well as respected citizens from all strata of our national life must be part of it.
“Instead, of rushing the passing of the bill on revertion to the old National Anthem”, the Group said, “issues boothering on the welfare, care and protection of Nigerians this hard times ought to occupy the minds of our National Legislators rather National Anthem change or revertion”.
The Media Group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ignore the newly passed controversial bill and focus on his economic and social infrastructure programmes including good take-home pay for workers, enhanced pension package for senior citizens and restoration of full power distribution to the whole Nation.
“It should recalled that the debate in the Senate on change of National Anthem began only last week with 1st, 2nd and 3rd reading of the bill taking place within 2 days, public hearing held yesterday and passage today! This is ridiculous”, the statement concluded.