Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, and supporters of the party over their rejection of the current national anthem at a town hall meeting in Lagos.
Omokri said the Constitution, national anthem and national football team were apolitical symbols that united Nigerians, warning that anyone who openly disrespected them should not expect citizens to entrust them with the country’s leadership.
He made the remarks in a statement on Friday, following an incident at the NDC town hall meeting in the Oregun area of Lagos State on Thursday, where Obi, and other party members and supporters recited the former national anthem, ‘Arise, O Compatriots’, instead of the current one, ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’.
The development followed the restoration of the former national anthem through the National Anthem Act 2024, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2024.
Reacting to the incident in a statement on Friday, Omokri cited Section 24(a) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which makes it a duty of Nigerian citizens to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals, institutions, national symbols and legitimate authorities.
He argued that Nigerians had a responsibility to respect the country’s national anthem, adding that the authority to determine it rested with the President and the National Assembly.
Omokri said, “The Constitution, National Anthem and the National Football Team are three apolitical symbols that unite all Nigerians.
“If you are prepared to openly and unapologetically disrespect these symbols, then what should Nigerians expect from you?”
He also questioned the political leadership aspirations of those who, according to him, showed disregard for the country’s constitutional provisions and national symbols.
“If you won’t respect your country’s Constitution. If you won’t respect your homeland’s National Football Team. If you won’t respect your nation’s National Anthem. How do you expect 235 million Nigerians to entrust you with their fate?” he asked.
The controversy followed a town hall meeting organised by the NDC in Lagos on Thursday, where the former national anthem was recited by attendees after the event moderator switched from the current version.
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party, is the NDC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election, with Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, as his running mate.
The National Anthem Act 2024 restored ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’, which served as the country’s national anthem from independence in 1960 until it was replaced with ‘Arise, O Compatriots’ in 1978.