“Arise, O Compatriots” is the national anthem of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Adopted in 1978, the National Anthem comprises patriotic words and phrases of five compatriots, namely John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B. A. Ogunnaike, Sotu Omoigui and P.O. Aderibighe.
The inspiring words were put into worthy lyrics by the Nigeria Police Band under the directorship of Benedict Elise Odiase, replacing post-indepedence: “Nigeria We Hail Thee” composed by Lillian Jean Williams and Frances Benda, both British expatriates.
The sights and sounds of Nigeria in the late ’70s, were certainly not that of explosions, serial bombings of schools and charred bodies of pupils, millions of internally Displaced persons, IDPs, abductions and criminal kidnappings of recent times.
On the contrary, Nigeria had uninterrupted school runs at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. It’s territorial integrity of almost one million sq km was intact. Indeed, Nigeria as a front line state spiritedly supported the liberation of the colonially occupied territories through historic decolonisation campaign efforts that led to the eventual indepedence of Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa.
The 1978 clarion call, “Arise, O compatriots” remains a thoughtful inspiration for nation-building and pan- Africanism if we choose to walk the lyrics. There “was once a country” which truly called all citizens for progress and to which all Nigerians indeed obeyed.
With all it’s acknowledged limitations, the 1999 Constitution is premised on profound welfare and national security considerations.The chapter dealing with the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy says among others that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.
The drafters of this Constitution never envisaged that some 15 years after, as many as over 21,545.86 sq km of land of the Nigeria land mass would come under occupation of some local insurgents without any official declaration of war. Reportedly 10 LGAs with more than two million people affected are under the heel of Boko Haram insurgents in three North Eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, an area “larger than Imo, Abia and Ekiti states put together, as big as Bayelsa and bigger than Gombe State.
The land mass under the control of the insurgents is about the size of Wales in the United Kingdom or the state of Maryland in the United States, and bigger than Northern Ireland.” With these scary reports about the gross violation of the territorial integrity of Nigeria, it cannot be business as usual by the President, legislators and governors who have taken the oaths to protect the Federal Republic as well as appointed security personnel.
The Senate and the House of Representatives recently adjourned not on account of the scandalous invasion of insurgents in the affected states but due to sickening disagreements over the scrambles for party tickets for 2015 elections.
The groundswell of national solidarity by thousands of compatriots which trailed the IG’s ill-advised order on security details of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, shows that compatriots can truly arise to defend another compatriot. What is good for the Speaker (security!) is even as desirable for hundreds of thousands of Mubi, Hong and Chibok who for whatever reason, are exposed to suicidal attacks due to insecurity.
If we can commendably protect political rallies, why should schools prove soft targets for marauding insurgents? An injury to one is an injury to all. Multiple injuries to as many as a million IDPs of the North East must be multiple injuries to us all.
A compatriot is defined as a fellow country man or woman. With as many as 176 million fellows, Nigeria is certainly not short of compatriots that must rise for Nigeria now. Nigeria’s 17 million huge Diaspora population ranks one of the highest in a peace time, sufficiently scattered all over the world to rise in support of their country any where with any means, even if the country falls short of electricity, light and drinking water.
The motto of Almuni Asociation of the National institute, AANI is: “Towards a Better society.” Only compatriots can build a better society.
Governors and legislators must urgently fashion out some political solution to the interactable challenge of insurgency, almost five years after. I agree with Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole who calls for a bi-partisan approach to security challenge. Patriots are defined as those with notable love for their country. With as many as 400 official Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN and 1500 members of the National Institute, Nigeria is not short of patriots to “serve our Fatherland with love and strength and faith” .
With as many as eight million organised workforce in the NLC and TUC, Nigeria parades a patriotic workforce. It’s time these compatriots and patriots alike heeded Nigeria’s call for solidarity and offer support against the invasion of our territories and cherished values of peaceful coexistence and tolerance so that “The labour of our heroes past Shall never be in vain”. Many thanks to patriots who are still standing and remain counted in this age of least resistance by many compatriots.
His Eminence Abubakar Saad had repeatedly and commendably damned the insurgents as anti-Islamic. Interrogating the hate and terror narratives of the insurgents will “Help our youth the truth to know, In love and honesty to grow”.
Former Military Governor of Kaduna state,Colonel Umar Dangiwa and Professor Wole Soyinka and elder statesman, Emeka Anyaoku and Femi Falana have rightly warned all compatriots not to be indifferent to the sad development in the North East. The ongoing partisan star words between politicians over who gets what, not necessarily who adds value, must be replaced by patriotic collective actions to halt and put an end to further advance of the insurgents and killings of defencelss civilians.
It’s time President Goodluck Jonathan addressed the nation on an all-inclusive road map to terminate insurgency underscoring an end to all forms of extremism, including economic extremism in which few are having well at the expense of the well being of many!
Comrade Issa Aremuis the Secretary -General, Almuni Association of the National Institute, AANI
