Nigeria, We Hail Thee
Just how backward does Asiwaju want us to go?
You’re in for a roller coaster ride with these latest headlines, but for true Nigerians, you’ll need no seat belts. We're revisiting Nigeria's old national anthem (time to dust off those lyrics you never knew), untangling a legal knot fit for a Nollywood thriller in Kano and celebrating President Tinubu's one year in office. Just remember, if you can't remember the lyrics to "Nigeria, we hail thee”, just hum along confidently. No one will notice!
-Lolade
Word Count: 641
Reading time: ~3 mins
Let’s get into today’s edition:
Our old national anthem is now our new national anthem
We had one Emir, then five and now two?
Tinubu at one
Nigerian university lecturers are still at it
The Big Deal
Our old national anthem is now our new national anthem
President Bola Tinubu has approved a new law bringing back Nigeria's old national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee." The anthem was written and composed by two British women, Lillian Jean Williams and Frances Berda, and used from Independence Day in 1960 to 1978.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced this during a special session of the National Assembly celebrating 25 years of Nigeria's 4th Republic, joking that people under 50 might not know the anthem. They sang the old (new?) anthem officially for the first time as Tinubu opened the Abuja Rail Mass Transit, also known as Metro Line, shortly after. The National Anthem Bill 2024 quickly passed through the Senate on Children’s Day two days ago.
We had one Emir, then five and now two?
In Kano, there is confusion and tension because two courts have issued conflicting orders about the Emirate. The Federal High Court ordered the eviction of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II from his palace, supporting the authority of the current Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, and protecting his rights. Meanwhile, the Kano State High Court issued an order protecting Muhammadu Sanusi II and others from harassment by state authorities, ensuring they keep their symbols of power. These contradictory decisions have created uncertainty about the rightful authority of the emirs. The Federal High Court will continue its case on June 4, and the State High Court on June 13. The situation highlights the important role of the judiciary in protecting traditional institutions.
Tinubu at one
President Bola Tinubu celebrated a year in office yesterday. While the masses reminisce on the administration that’s brought us inflation, price hikes, student loans, forgotten palliatives, and more, former President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated him on his anniversary and urged Nigerians to support the administration. Buhari, who handed over to Tinubu on May 29, 2023, expressed his hopes for Tinubu’s success and called for national unity and goodwill from all citizens.
Nigerian university lecturers are still at it
And by “it”, we mean harassing, molesting and raping. On May 26, 2024, X user CHIKAMMA (@AlexVivyNnabue) called out her former UNIBEN philosophy lecturer, Dr Tony Asekhuno, accusing him of rape. Her tweet opened the floodgates of accusations from the lecturer’s other alleged victims, detailing how he’d fail his victims if they refused to date, get intimate with him or follow him to the “staff club”. And sometimes, he’d rape them.
But CHIKAMMA’s call-out started years ago when she posted a thread of screenshots in 2019. The screenshots appear to be WhatsApp messages sent from a male friend who was forced to drop out. The same lecturer insisted on sex for grades, hinting that his harassment wasn’t limited to his female students. The long thread also details his inclination to spike students’ drinks. And apparently, the UNIBEN management was aware of his bad behaviour but did nothing.
In the last three days, multiple X users have shared their experiences of varying levels of abuse from the lecturer. The public has called for further investigation by the relevant law enforcement and justice for the victims.
The Big Picks
It’s been one year since President Tinubu resumed office, and Nigeria’s tech ecosystem believes he can do more. Much more.
A consortium of African startups including Paystack and Piggyvest have acquired Brass. Here are the deets.
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