Nigerian activist Aisha Yesufu has firmly
stated that she will always remain seated during the rendition of the
reintroduced national anthem, "Nigeria We Hail Thee."
Yesufu, known for her socio-political
activism, recently made headlines after a video showing her sitting while the
national anthem was recited at an event went viral. The footage, which captured
the co-convener of the BringBackOurGirls (BBO) movement crossing her legs
during the anthem, left many guests at the event astonished.
In a follow-up video, Yesufu explained her
stance, citing the ongoing economic and security crises in Nigeria. She
criticized the National Assembly for focusing on the anthem rather than
addressing more pressing issues.
"As far as I am concerned, there is no
new and old national anthem; there is only one: 'Arise O Compatriot,' and that
is the anthem I recognize," Yesufu said. "If I am at any occasion, I
will stand up for the national anthem. But if they start playing 'Nigeria We
Hail Thee,' I will sit down and operate my phone."
Yesufu described the reintroduction of the
old anthem as an "obnoxious law" and expressed disappointment in the
National Assembly for prioritizing it over critical issues. "The National
Assembly should be ashamed of themselves. We, as citizens, are ashamed on their
behalf. We have companies leaving Nigeria, our GDP is declining, and there is
no security of lives and property. Instead of addressing these problems, they
focus on bringing back an old anthem."
She concluded by emphasizing the need for
the government to focus on more significant issues that impact the country's
well-being rather than symbolic gestures like the national anthem.
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