President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday in Abuja, inaugurated the National Assembly Library and Resource Centre, which is named in his honour.

Before the inauguration of the library, the President had briefly attended a commemorative sitting of the National Assembly, where he made extemporaneous remarks.

President Tinubu, who had signed the National Anthem Bill, 2024, into law at the Presidential Villa earlier on Wednesday, said he was at the National Assembly as a mark of respect, and to congratulate the legislators and Nigerians on the 25th anniversary of Nigeria’s unbroken democracy.

He extended his gratitude to the lawmakers and acknowledged the efforts and sacrifices made to build and sustain the country’s democratic institutions.

“Our friends, old and new, to every Nigerian I say congratulations on 25 years of unbroken democracy. Out of respect, I have come to say thank you very much for building up this institution to this level. You are the foremost leaders who speak for our people and have been at the forefront of this struggle,” President Tinubu said.

Highlighting the significance of the National Assembly, President Tinubu referred to it as a “hallowed chamber” that embodies the nation’s consciousness for freedom and solidarity.

“You sang out the latest national anthem, ‘Nigeria we hail thee’. This is our diversity, representing all people and how we pledge together to be brothers and sisters.

“Without this House, I probably would not have found a path to the presidency, I started it all from here. That is why I have given that respect to you this morning to continue to collaborate with you to build our country together. We have no other choice. No other institution or personality will help us, except we do it ourselves for ourselves.

“No amount of aid from foreign countries can help us. Let us work together to build our nation, charting a new path,” the President stated.

President Tinubu also emphasized the need to preserve and strengthen democracy for future generations.

“We must nurture our democracy so that our children and great grandchildren will be assured of prosperity, progress, and development,” the President concluded.

In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the President’s visit was out of respect for the National Assembly.

”Before you arrived, Mr. President, the Speaker and I had explained to the lawmakers that this visit is what is called ‘waka pass’ in Nollywood.

”You intend to celebrate Democracy Day on June 12, but out of honour and respect for the National Assembly you said you must pass through the National Assembly on your first anniversary,” the Senate President said.

On Nigeria reverting to the old national anthem, Akpabio commended the President for taking the nation back to its roots stating: ‘‘Though we may belong to different tribes, though we have different tongues, in brotherhood we stand.’’

”There is no more fitting place to take us back to our genealogy other than the National Assembly, which is made up of patriotic and elected citizens of Nigeria. The voice of the National Assembly is the voice of Nigeria, so we welcome you,” the Senate President added.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

May 29, 2024

May 29, 2024

Press Release

PDP Releases Updated Edo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council List

The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the exercise of its powers, and pursuant to its commitment of ensuring victory for our Party in the Edo State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024; hereby releases the updated list of member of the Edo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council.

The members of the Council are as follows:

1 H.E. RT. HON. AHMADU UMARU FINTIRI CHAIRMAN

2 H.E. RT. HON. SHERIFF OBOREVWORI FRANCIS DEPUTY CHAIRMAN

3 H.E. DR. KEFAS AGBU CO-DEPUTY CHAIRMAN

4 H.E. ALH. ATIKU ABUBAKAR FORMER VICE PRESIDENT

5 H.E. ARCH. NNAMADI SAMBO FORMER VICE PRESIDENT

6 H.E. SEN. ADOLPHUS WABARA, Ph.D BOT CHAIRMAN

7 H.E. AMB. UMAR ILIYA DAMAGUM AG. NATIONAL CHAIRMAN

8 H.E SEN. BALA MOHAMMED MEMBER

9 H.E. ENGR. SEYI MAKINDE, FNSE MEMBER

10 H.E GODWIN OBASEKI MEMBER

11 H.E SEN. DOUYE DIRI MEMBER

12 H.E. SEN. ADEMOLA J.N. ADELEKE MEMBER

13 H.E PST. UMO ENO MEMBER

14 H.E SIR. SIMINALAYI FUBARA, GSSRS MEMBER

15 H. E. DR. PETER NDUBUISI MBAH MEMBER

16 H.E. BARR. CALEB MUTFWANG MEMBER

17 H.E. DR. DAUDA LAWAL MEMBER

18 H.E. OMOBAYO GODWINS MEMBER

19 BARR. DR. ASUE IGHODALO GUBER CANDIDATE

20 OSARODION OGIE, ESQ DEPUTY GUBER CANDIDATE

21 H.E. DR. JAMES IBORI MEMBER

22 SEN. STELLA OMU MEMBER

23 RT. HON. PATRICK NATHAN IFON MEMBER

24 A.V.M LARRY KONYIA MEMBER

25 H.E. SEN. LIYEL IMOKE MEMBER

26 PROF. SAM OYOVBAIRE MEMBER

27 CHIEF MIKE OGHIADOMHE, CFR MEMBER

28 CHIEF FERDINAND ALABRABA  MEMBER

29 DR. MRS.  ESTHER UDUEHI MEMBER

30 SEN. ABBA MORO PATRICK MEMBER

31 SEN. OSITA UGWU NGWU MEMBER

32 SEN. OYEWUNMI OLALERE MEMBER

33 RT. HON. KINGSLEY O. CHINDA MEMBER

34 RT. HON. (DR) ALI ISA J.C. MEMBER

35 H. E. AMB. TAOFEEK ARAPAJA MEMBER

36 SEN. SAMUEL NNAEMEKA ANYANWU MEMBER

37 HON. ARCH. SETONJI KOSHEODO  MEMBER

38 HON. AHMED YAYARI MOHAMMED MEMBER

39 HON. DEBO OLOGUNAGBA MEMBER

40 HON. UMAR M. BATURE MEMBER

41 DANIEL WOYENGIKURO MEMBER

42 HON. SIR. OKECHUKWU OBIECHINA DANIEL, FCA MEMBER

43 KAMALDEEN ADEYEMI AJIBADE, SAN MEMBER

44 HON. AMINA DARASIMI D. BRYHM MEMBER

45 MUHAMMED KADADE SULEIMAN MEMBER

46 CHIEF DR. ALI OBASI ODEFA MEMBER

47 HON. THEOPHILUS DAKAS SHAN MEMBER

48 CHIEF DAN ORBIH MEMBER

49 DR. EMMANUEL NKAVOA BOVOA MEMBER

50 NDUBUISI ENEH DAVID MEMBER

51 ALHAJI IBRAHIM ABDULLAHI MEMBER

52 HON. ADAMU D.U. KAMALE MEMBER

53 HON. MARYAM GARBA BAGEL MEMBER

54 HON. TIMOTHY OSADOLOR MEMBER

55 HON. ABDULRAHMAN MOHAMMED MEMBER

56 BARR. OKECHUKWU OSUOHA MEMBER

57 H.E. CHIEF LUCKY IGBINEDION MEMBER

58 H.E. DR. EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN MEMBER

59 H.E. SEN. SERIAKE DICKSON MEMBER

60 H.E. UDOM EMMANUEL MEMBER

61 H.E. SEN. DR. IFEANYI OKOWA, CON MEMBER

62 HIGH CHIEF TOM IKIMI MEMBER

63 MRS. HERBATA OKONOFUA AYU MEMBER

64 CHIEF EMMANUEL OGIDI MEMBER

65 HON. EMMANUEL IBESHI MEMBER

66 SEN. ALLWELL ONYESOH MEMBER

67 SEN. BARINADA MPIGI MEMBER

68  SEN. MRS. IPALIBO HARRY BANIGO MEMBER

69 SEN. JARIGBE A. JARIGBE MEMBER

70 SEN. BENSON F. KONBOWEI MEMBER

71 SEN. AGADAGA BENSON MEMBER

72 SEN. SAMPSON EKONG MEMBER

73 SEN. ANIEKAN ETIM BASSEY MEMBER

74 SEN. NWOKO CHINEDU M. MEMBER

75 HON. MARK ESSET UDO MEMBER

76 SEN. CLIFFORD ORDIA MEMBER

77 SEN. EHIGIE UZAMERE MEMBER

78 SEN. FRANCIS ALIMIKHINA MEMBER

79 SEN. ODION UGBESIA MEMBER

80 SEN. VICTOR OYOFO MEMBER

81 RT. HON. TUNDE AKOGUN MEMBER

82 RT. HON. NDUDI ELUMELU MEMBER

83 RT. HON. IME BASSEY OKON MEMBER

84 HON. UNYIME JOSIAH IDEM MEMBER

85 HON. MARTINS ESIN MEMBER

86 HON. UDUAK A. ODUDOH MEMBER

87 HON. ETTEH OKPOLUPM IKPONG MEMBER

88 HON. EKPO PAUL ASUQUO MEMBER

89 HON. AGBEDI YEITIEMONE FREDRICK MEMBER

90 HON. EBIKAKE MARIE MEMBER

91 HON. OBUKU ABONSIZIBE. OFORJI MEMBER

92 HON. OBORDOR MITEMA MEMBER

93 HON. AMBAOWEI RODNEY E. MEMBER

94 HON. MR. AKPANKE PETER A. MEMBER

95 HON. BARR. GODWIN OFFIONG ODEY EKPO MEMBER

96 HON. JULIUS PONDI GBABOJOR MEMBER

97 HON. NWOKOLO VICTOR ONYEMEACHI MEMBER

98 HON. MUTU NICHOLAS EBOMO MEMBER

99 HON. EZECHI NNAMDI MEMBER

100 HON. ERHIATAKE IBORI – SUENU MEMBER

101 HON. UKODHIKO AJIROGHENE JONATHAN MEMBER

102 HON. THOMAS EREYITOMI MEMBER

103 HON. SOLOMON BOB MEMBER

104 HON. AWAJI – INOMBEK ABIANTE DAGOMIE MEMBER

105 HON. VICTOR OBUZOR CHUKWUEMELE MEMBER

106 HON. BOMA GOODHEAD MEMBER

107 HON. CYRIL GODWIN HART MEMBER

108 HON. KELECHI NWOGU MEMBER

109 HON. BONIFACE SUNDAY EMERENGWA MEMBER

110 HON. DUMNAMENE DEKOR MEMBER

111 HON. ALABO VICTOR TAMUNOMIEKAYE MEMBER

112 HON. BARR. CHIMA BOMS MEMBER

113 HON. BARR. MRS. BLESSINGS AMADI MEMBER

114 HON. FELIX NWAEKE UCHE MEMBER

115 HON. BARR. OMOSEDE GARBRIELLA IGBINEDION MEMBER

116 CHIEF EARL ONAIWO OSARO MEMBER

117 HON. DR. TONY AZIEGBEMI MEMBER

118 HON. SOLOMON E. AGWANA  MEMBER

119 IKEM VENATIUS AYABIE MEMBER

120 OLOROGUN BARR. KINGSLEY ESISO MEMBER

121 HON. AARON CHUKWUEMEKA  MEMBER

122 HON. ANIEKAN AKPAN MEMBER

123 SEN. MRS. DAISY DANJUMA MEMBER

124 CHIEF MRS. ADUKE MAINA MEMBER

125 MR. FESTUS OSAIGBOVO MEMBER

126 YEYE YETUNDE ODUBOTE MEMBER

127 ERELU TOYIN OLUMILUA DAVID MARK MEMBER

128 IYOM JOSEPHINE ANENIH MEMBER

129 SEN IGHOYOTA AMORI MEMBER

130 MRS. LAURENTIA MALLAM MEMBER

131 PRINCE AJIBOLA OLUWASEYI ADEPOJU MEMBER

132 ALH. HAMZA JIBIA MEMBER

133 COMRADE JUDE IMAGWE MEMBER

134 OSE ANENIH MEMBER

135 BARR. ANTHONY EHILEBO MEMBER

136 COMRADE YINKA SOTADE MEMBER

137 DR. IMAFIDON SAMSON MEMBER

138 HARRISON OMAGBON MEMBER

139 HENRY DUKE TENEBE MEMBER

140 TONY ANENIH, JR. MEMBER

141 PRINCE WALE GOMEZ MEMBER

142 FIDEL IGENEGBALE MEMBER

143 MRS. MEMUNAT JOHNSON  ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY

144 HON. PASCHAL ADIGWE COUNCIL SECRETARY

All Council Members are kindly requested to be available for inauguration as follows:

Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Venue: National Executive Committee (NEC) Hall, PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, FCT, Abuja.

Time: 12:00 Noon

Signed:

Hon. Debo Ologunagba

National Publicity Secretary

NIGERIA, WE HAIL THEE:  Stirring Saga of our National Anthem(s): Historical Perspective or Voice of a New Dawn?

By Otega Ogra, FCIM

1. The year was 1959. As the clock ticked towards 1960, Nigeria stood on the precipice of a monumental shift—its emancipation from British colonial rule. This was a time when our nation was more a line item in a colonial ledger than a free state.

The country, once treated less as a nation and more as a commodity in an unholy alliance with the infamous Royal Niger Company, was gearing up to redefine its identity. Our founding fathers had waged a long, arduous struggle not just against colonial domination but also against the indignity of having to pledge allegiance in compulsory renditions to a distant monarch with the anthem, “God Save the King.”

2. To solidify this newfound autonomy, a call was issued, inviting both Nigerians and international participants to pen a national anthem that would encapsulate the vision of the impending free and independent Nigeria. The call for entries reproduced below, was a clarion call to articulate the collective aspirations and spirit of diversity of our soon-to-be sovereign nation:

“COMPETITION FOR NATIONAL ANTHEM”

“The National Planning Committee for Independence is thrilled to announce a competition to select a National Anthem to commemorate the Federation of Nigeria’s independence on October 1, 1960.

A prize of $280.00 will be awarded for a National Anthem that resonates with the spirit of a free Nigeria, standing proud among the nations of the world. We invite submissions of no more than three verses, each comprising six lines in English. This lyrical representation should capture the essence of our nation (the setting to music will be announced later).

Please send your entries by March 31, 1959, to: Independence Celebrations Officer, c/o Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lagos.”

3. This call for entries drew a staggering response of over 1,000 entries, culminating in the selection of “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as Nigeria’s inaugural anthem, penned by a British expatriate living in Nigeria, Lillian Jean Williams, with music by Frances Berda. As the anthem echoed through the celebrations on October 1, 1960, it marked a fitting tribute to the aspirations of our nation and reflected the broad diversity of the various nations that made up the New Nigeria.

Unity was its key message.

4. However, the years that followed brought with them trials that tested the nation’s resolve: a military coup in 1966, a subsequent civil war, and the onset of an oil boom that reshaped the economic landscape. By the late 1970s, amid the throes of change and under the leadership of then former dictator and military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo (who was part of the military coup that brought Gen Murtala Mohammed into power before his demise in a failed coup that saw Obasanjo become head of state), a new anthem was sought to reflect what they believed was a maturing nation’s identity. This led to another anthem competition, to reflect the nationalistic fervor of the time, resulting in “Arise, O Compatriots,” adopted in 1978 and penned by a quintet of Nigerian writers – John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B. A. Ogunnaike, Sota Omoigui and P. O. Aderibigbe. The music was created by the Nigerian Police Band directed by B. E. Odiasse.
5. Years of political tumult continued until Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999, with reformed President Obasanjo (now a civilian) at the helm. The turn of the millennium saw calls from across the country for restructuring, a topic that Obasanjo largely sidestepped, focusing instead on other reforms. This decision to ignore those calls would plague him all through his presidency.
6. It wasn’t until 2014 under President Goodluck Jonathan that a National confab was convened, bringing together 492 Nigerians to a National Conference inaugurated on March 17, 2014 which was somewhat representative. I say somewhat because, some strongly believe President Jonathan only decided to convene the national confab to earn sympathy points for his then re-election bid which he still lost to President Buhari in 2015.
7. During this conference with retired Chief Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi as Chairman, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi as Vice Chair and Dr Valerie Azinge as Secretary, one poignant resolution from this conference amongst others was to revert to the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” seen as a true reflection of Nigeria’s foundational values. According to a report by Premium Times @premiumtimesNG, “The conference resolved for Nigeria to abandon its anthem and return to the old ‘Nigeria we hail thee’ anthem”. Details of the report can be found on the National Repository Site. Direct Link to document here: https://nigeriareposit.nln.gov.ng/…/eb70724c-6da2-447e…
8. Page 295, National Conference Report, text reproduced below:

“11 – NATIONAL ANTHEM”

“Conference decided that:

Nigeria should revert to her old National Anthem which embodies unity, peace and prosperity as follows:

Nigeria, we hail thee,

Our own dear native land, Though tribe and tongue may differ, In brotherhood we stand,

Nigerians all are proud to serve

Our sovereign Motherland.

Our flag shall be a symbol

That truth and justice reign, In peace or battle honoured, And this we count as gain, To hand on to our children A banner without stain.

O God of all creation,

Grant this our one request, Help us to build a nation

Where no man is oppressed, And so with peace and plenty Nigeria may be blessed.”

NOTE: some of the 2014 national conference outcomes have already been passed into law by the National Assembly since 2014 and have been part of the various constitution review processes since then.

9. This idea recently gained legislative traction, and as of May 29, 2024, the switch back was officially enacted—25 years post the establishment of uninterrupted civilian governance.
10. I have seen many questions and whilst I may not have all the answers, I personally believe in the power of an anthem to engender national pride and values.
11. Reflecting on this issue, I am also of the personal opinion that ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ anthem speaks to our diversity and urgent need for unity. Not that Arise O compatriots doesn’t, but given the challenges we face as a ‘federating unit’ the first Nigerian anthem speaks more to me. There is a unique power of a national anthem in fostering a sense of pride and unity!
12. As a Senior Aide in President Bola Tinubu’s office, I daily witness his commitment to these national ideals firsthand. President Tinubu, is no doubt a figure synonymous with dedication to national unity and progress — and he continues to inspire me.

Some have shared old videos of Mr President, President Bola Tinubu speaking about his preference for ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’. This is what I have to say: President Tinubu has never hidden his vision of seeing a more united Nigeria. His stance on restructuring, devolution of powers to fedeeating units and non-interference are clear.

President Tinubu remains someone who doesn’t hide from his beliefs in the name of politics – a case of He says what he does, and does what he says! This is something that continues to endear me to him – first in his stint as governor, where I was a beneficiary of his free SSCE exams as a bright student of the Lagos state-owned Lagos State Model College, Kankon and years after when I watched in close proximity, his organisation of the 2011 ACN Nuhu Ribadu/Fola Adeola Presidential ticket.

Fast forward to a couple of years ago, I worked closely with him leading to his declaration to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Today, he is our President.

IN SUMMARY: President Bola Tinubu will always  put country first – even over himself. I have seen it in private over the years. I still see it daily as a senior aide in his office.

13. Nigeria belongs to us all regardless of tribe, religion, or any demographic grouping – “/Though Tribe and Tongue may differ, In Brotherhood We Stand/”

May God grant us a “Nigeria that is blessed”

#iStandWithNigeria #IstandWithTinubu.

Amen.

*Otega Ogra is a Senior Aide to President Bola Tinubu. He oversees the Presidential Office of Digital Communications and New Media Strategy