October 13th, 2025
Press Release
Exit of a Patriot – Hon. Eme Etim Akpan
Coauthor, All Nigerian National Anthem (1978) – Arise O’ Compatriots
By
Dr Sota Omoigui MD – Co-author, All Nigerian National Anthem (1978) – Arise O’ Compatriots
On September 15th 2025, Hon. Eme Etim Akpan (Benemerenti Medal – Papal Medalist) cut the surly bonds of earth and departed this mortal world for a higher glory. She was the only female co-author of our All Nigerian National Anthem, “ARISE O’ COMPATRIOTS,” which she co-wrote in 1978.
On September 26th, 2023, the news media had published that in anticipation of the nation’s 63rd Independence Day celebration, Dr Garba Abari, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency on behalf of the Federal Government would give the co-authors of the nation’s national anthem together with Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, the designer of Nigeria’s national flag, the Citizenship and Patriots Award.
As reported by the press, (https://l.kphx.net/s?d=7164072752772661951&extra=Q1RSWT1ORyZMTkc9ZW4tTkc=&g=fde8378cb897ab1087e014a563723059) among the honorees were Naval Rating Salaudeen Akano, who raised the Nigerian flag at midnight to commemorate the nation’s independence in 1960, as well as the late Commander Onwurah Zonyanuno Chiazor, the commandant who issued the order for Salaudeen to hoist the national flag. Others on the list include John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B. A. Ogunnaike, Sota Omoigui, and P. O. Aderibigbe, all of whom contributed to the lyrics of the country’s National Anthem. Also, set to be recognized is the man who oversaw the composition of the national anthem by the Nigerian Police Band, the late Benedict E. Odiase. Additionally, the woman credited with creating the National Pledge, the late Mrs. Felicia Adebola Adedoyin, and her friend Adewusi, who introduced her to the President, will also be honored.
Hon. Eme Etim Akpan reached out to me on WhatsApp, on September 29th, 2023 for the first time in 45 yrs since we wrote the national anthem in 1978.
“Good morning Noble Nigerian” she wrote. “How are you and the family? My name is Eme Etim Akpan. There is news in the media that we are to be honored on the 5th of October 2023. Please do you have any information about the national Award?”
She was excited that the long delayed recognition for those of us who wrote the national anthem was finally here. Sadly I had to burst her bubble. I had spoken to Dr Garba Abari two days earlier who informed me that this award was just a product of their agency and that it was not national honors and neither would President Tinubu be there to award it. Her response was just amazing. She wrote: “In His time, the Lord will make all things beautiful. Remain blessed”.
Yet Hon. Eme Etim Akpan kept hope alive and travelled to Abuja from her residence in Port Harcourt to be available on the morning of the said award. There was never any award ceremony. None of us including the other living co-author, Dr Philips Olusegun Aderibigbe, ever heard from Dr Garba Abari or the National Orientation Agency again.
Less than two weeks later and by October 22nd 2023, President Bola Tinubu terminated the appointment of Dr Abari as Director of the National Orientation Agency.
Unbeknownst to Dr Garba Abari, a good and honorable man, while he was planning to give an award to his citizen patriots, President Tinubu was determined to deny any such awards to his countrymen and women.
Flashback – On November 18th, 2011, Mr Tinubu, as the leader of one of the main opposition parties, called for a referendum to gauge the preference of Nigerians on the two national anthems that the country has had since independence. He argued for the adoption of the 1960 colonial anthem in place of the current one “Abandoning the post-independence anthem, which arguably evoked a strong spirit of patriotism and brotherliness, to compose a very drab replacement, is far less inspirational,” Mr Tinubu said during a speech at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Jos, Plateau State. See: https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2011/11/18/tinubu-calls-for-vote-on-national-anthem/?amp=1
Even before he was sworn in as President, Mr Tinubu broached the idea of replacing the national anthem with the wise sage and his good friend Prof Wole Soyinka. The good Professor advised President Tinubu to focus on the more pressing issues facing the nation and leave the national anthem alone. But that was not to be. President Tinubu was sworn in on May 29th 2023.
On May 23rd, 2024, the House of Representatives scaled the first, second and third reading in one sitting. It was done amid opposition from lawmakers across party lines. Following the conclusion of the debate, the Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu put the bill to voice vote and the voice of those who said “nays” were louder but he ruled in favour of those who said “ayes”. See https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/697120-how-lawmakers-accelerated-passed-bill-to-change-nigerias-national-anthem.html?tztc=1
On May 28th 2024, the same corrupt process was repeated in the senate without any public consultation.. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, had urged the National Assembly not to revert to the old anthem without more public input. Yet Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the bill to a voice vote and declared that the “ayes” had it despite reports that the voices of the “nays” were louder.
On May 29th, 2024, President Tinubu signed the bill into law without the national referendum he had called for. The timing, signing the bill on Tinubu’s first-year anniversary amid economic strain, was widely interpreted as agenda-setting optics. President Tinubu publicly embraced ownership, arguing the reversion was “my priority,” . President Tinubu argued again that the reinstated colonial anthem evokes a deeper sense of patriotism and nationalism than the previous anthem, See: https://1stattorneys.com/articles/2024/05/29/the-price-of-reversion-identity-legitimacy-and-nigerias-national-soundtrack/
I commend the love of patriotism and nationalism by President Tinubu. Unfortunately a colonial anthem alone does not evoke a sense of patriotism and nationalism among the citizens. The President by his leadership and example, and the people he surrounds himself with, must demonstrate the patriotic way and the citizens will emulate him.
Let us first look at the definitions:
Nationalism is the strong belief that one’s own nation—a group of people with a shared identity, culture, or history—is superior to others and that their interests and sovereignty are more important than any other individual or international obligation
Patriotism is love for, and loyalty to, one’s country, which often includes a sense of identification with fellow citizens, a concern for the nation’s well-being, and a willingness to make sacrifices for it. It is a complex concept encompassing affection for one’s nation and its way of life, but it can also be expressed through actions like voting, learning national history, advocating for solutions to national problems, and supporting fellow citizens, particularly those who have served the country.
With due respect President Tinubu, you are neither patriotic nor nationalistic.
First of all you fired Dr Garba Abari, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency for daring to honor your citizens who co-authored and composed the national anthem that had stood for 45 years, Naval Rating Salaudeen Akano, who raised the Nigerian flag at midnight to commemorate the nation’s independence in 1960, as well as the late Commander Onwurah Zonyanuno Chiazor, the commandant who issued the order for Salaudeen to hoist the national flag, the late Mrs. Felicia Adebola Adedoyin who created our National Pledge, and her friend Adewusi, who introduced her to the President.
By reverting the country to the colonial anthem, President Bola Tinubu you have claimed that patriotism is at the forefront of your mind. Unfortunately, you have failed to live up to the ideals of patriotism and the colonial anthem you so love.
What kind of patriotism is it when you President Tinubu, while as a candidate running for election, you publicly extolled your supporters to fight for political power at all costs, grab it, snatch it and run away with it?? See https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=905278874215694
What kind of patriotism do you exemplify when you state that the reason for running for the Presidency of Nigeria was not because of the vision you had for the country, but because it was your turn (Emilokan), since you had foisted the incompetent and corrupt Buhari on the country as the president? See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GAh_3H_y_A
What example of patriotism do you set when you regularly travel to France to the best medical centers for your medical care while your citizens are left to suffer and die in under equipped hospitals and where emergent hospital care is denied to our young ones like the Arise TV news anchor Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu, 29, who sustained life threatening injuries after leaping three stories from her apartment in a desperate attempt to escape a horrific armed robbery. See:
https://dailytrust.com/tinubu-spends-59-days-in-8-trips-to-france/
https://nypost.com/2025/10/04/world-news/cherished-nigerian-news-anchor-plunges-3-stories-to-her-death-trying-to-flee-armed-robbers/
What kind of patriotism do you have when your first daughter Folashade Tinubu-Ojo created and assumed the role of the Iyaloja-General (market leader) of Nigeria, a title and position which is strange and not recognised in the Nigerian Constitution. She then goes to the ancient city of Benin City to impose and crown her underling as the Iyaloja of Edo State, a concept alien to and in violation of the cultural traditions of the Edos and in contravention of the directives issued by the Oba of Benin.
See https://saharareporters.com/2025/10/08/benin-palace-questions-motive-iyaloja-role-edo-markets-urges-tinubus-daughter-also
Iyalojas and Babalojas (male market leaders) are involved in collecting market dues and taxes, sometimes leading to accusations of illegal levies and extortion. So the underlying motive behind this Iyaloja disrespect to the Oba of Benin, is so that you and your family get a piece of the dues paid by market women for every food stuff that they sell?? Another yoke of taxation that you impose on your country men and women to directly benefit you and your family.
Mr President, I will remind you of a couple of lines from your beloved colonial anthem
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign
Bribing delegates to vote for you in your Presidential primaries election does not show any belief in truth and justice. Neither is presiding over a corrupt electoral process to hold political power at all costs. See https://gazettengr.com/apc-convention-tinubu-pays-ogun-delegates-25000-adamawa-10000-delegates-reject-osinbajos-5000/
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you have continued the corrupt practices of your predecessor President Muhammadu Buhari, and ensconced yourself with the crooked and the indicted. I take the indulgence to remind you again that there is no plan that you can have, no minimum wage, no palliative, no refinery project, no road construction, no electrical power plant, no schools or hospital projects, no white paper or yellow paper that can succeed in the corrosive environment of corruption and lack of accountability.
According to the World Bank, poverty, which began to rise in 2019 due to policy missteps and shocks like COVID-19, has continued to grow. In October 2025, they estimate that 139 million Nigerians live in poverty.
This figure represents a significant jump from 129 million in April 2025 and 87 million in 2023, underscoring the worsening hardship faced by millions of families across the country. See https://diasporadigitalmedia.com/139-million-nigerians-now-living-in-poverty-despite-tinubus-reform-gains-world-bank/#google_vignette
Our people suffer in poverty with a currency that has undergone a 1000% devaluation since we wrote the national anthem in 1978. There is both food insecurity and personal insecurity with kidnappings of our school children and killings of our citizens. When food prices exceed the salary of a worker, men sell their dignity and women their honor. Our youth have become hopeless and helpless, and are dying in the sea and the desert trying to escape the country for a better life elsewhere. Those left behind see the greed, looting and pillaging by their leaders, have no opportunities for economic empowerment and resort in internet scams, and fraud, prostitution, banditry and kidnapping to make ends meet. Thus innocent people both inside the country and globally are made to pay the price for the corruption of our leaders.
As they say, insanity is when you repeat the same thing over and over again and expect different results.
In conclusion President Tinubu, imposing a colonial anthem, that the majority of Nigerians younger than 45 years cannot sing, to evoke a spirit of patriotism, may be the right message for the country but you are the wrong messenger.
I will conclude with the words of my co-author Hon. Eme Etim Akpan:
“In His time, the Lord will make all things beautiful. Remain blessed”
Rest in Peace Noble and Patriotic Nigerian Hon. Eme Etim Akpan. Nigeria will be beautiful some day. They can deny your award but your legacy for our national anthem is engraved in gold in the history of our country. As your mortal body is lowered into the grave on October 16th, 2025, your spirit ascends into the heavens, on your celestial journey, to the Throne of Grace of your Heavenly Father. I wish you journey mercies and God be with you.
God bless Nigeria
Arise O’ Compatriots!!! Nigeria’s call obey!!!
