An unexpected incident occurred at the Presidential Villa. Nigeria’s old national anthem was incorrectly played. This happened during the All Progressives Congress (APC) national caucus meeting. The event took place in Abuja on Thursday night.
The incident unfolded in the State House banquet hall. Key party leaders assembled there. They attended a crucial high-level meeting.
Band Plays Former Anthem, Causes Brief Confusion
Standard protocol called for the national anthem. The band surprisingly started playing. They played “Arise, O Compatriots.” This was Nigeria’s former anthem.
President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima were seated. Senate President Godswill Akpabio was also there. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas was present. The music began as they sat.
They stood for a moment. Confusion was evident. The incorrect anthem played loudly.
Rapid Correction by Musicians
The musicians realized their error. They promptly stopped mid-song. Then they switched to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.” This anthem was recently reinstated. President Tinubu’s administration brought it back.
The brief error was fixed quickly. The meeting continued smoothly. No further interruptions occurred.
Reinstatement of “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”
President Tinubu signed a bill on May 29. This reinstated “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.” It is now the national anthem again.
This anthem was first used from 1960 to 1988. “Arise, O Compatriots” replaced it. That anthem was active from 1978 until early 2024.
New APC Chairman Presides Over First Caucus Meeting
Thursday’s assembly was significant. It was the first APC national caucus meeting. The new national chairman presided. Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda led the session.
Many governors recently defected. They left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They joined the APC. These governors also attended the meeting.
Attending Governors from Other Parties
The attending governors included: Peter Mbah (Enugu), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa).
The defectors’ presence was notable. It showed the APC’s increasing power. This is significant before the 2027 general election.
Additional High-Ranking Officials Attended
Other important attendees were present. They included former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. Members of the APC National Working Committee came. APC governors and National Assembly principal officers were also there.
A visual representation is provided below.
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