By Godwin Onuh Odeh, Ph.D., President Ahmed Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law on 29 May 2024 ,thereby r...
By Godwin Onuh Odeh, Ph.D.,
President Ahmed Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law on 29 May 2024 ,thereby reinstating the original anthem, “Nigeria , We Hail Thee…” which was adopted at independence in 1960, but abandoned in 1978 in favor of “Arise O’ Compatriots” that was in use since then. While the lyrics of the former was by the British expatriate Lilian Jean Williams and the music composed by Frances Benda, the later was widely credited to Nigerian Benedict Odiase. The debate around the reintroduction of the original anthem and its colonial cum imperial fashion is not the focus of this piece. However, the abandoning and reintroduction of the anthems underscores the significance of songs and music in constructing and fanning patriotic flavor that may be able to address national crisis such as Japa syndrome that have being ravaging the country since 2015 due to comatose economy occasioned by sixteen years of the PDP mismanagement but worsened by the PMB’s economic policy summersaults, which the current administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is yet to find credible and lasting solutions.
The Japa syndrome among Nigerian youths and professionals has reached a cancerous and monstrous stage that if nothing is urgently done to address it the Federal Government will in the nearest future have to go global, searching for expatriates to engage in her services, especially in critical sectors such as health and education. The move towards this direction may not be funny as it epitomizes a reversion to recolonisation of Nigeria.
In fact, it is no longer news that Nigerian universities lecturers, medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other health workers are leaving the country in droves in search of greener pastures in America, Asia, Europe and more pathetic, in neighboring African States, where Nigeria remained a historic colossus. It is documented that about 16,000 medical doctors alone left Nigeria in the last five to seven years. Out of this number, about 5000 headed to the United Kingdom.
Similarly, in terms of brain drain, it is documented that about 23, 000 lecturers leaves Africa annually, of course one don’t need to be told the largest number is from Nigeria. To curb the abnormality in the drain factor in the academic industry, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has severally approached the Federal Government for adoption of African Universities Average Pay, not even the best, but government has failed in this regard. At present, a University Professor monthly pay in Nigeria is not up to 600k. What a misplaced priority in a nation of abundance! In short, the removal of fuel subsidy with its attendant consequences of economic hardship on the masses give another boost to Japa and backdoor migration of youths and adults (who are semi-skilled and unskilled labour) to other African States and even across the dreadful Mediterranean sea, with many losing their lives.
As matter of fact, Nigeria appeared to have linger for a very long time on the journey of development. In his Keynote address at the conference on the state of the nation organized by the Arewa House in 1994, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo citing a foreign author aptly describes Nigeria condition, thus:
Once Nigeria was considered the anchor and bellwether of a huge continent, blessed with clever and energetic people, favoured with ample material resources (particularly oil), and is Africa most populous country. But despite the size and wealth, Nigeria lingers in the doldrums, perpetually a country of the future.
After the ambitious transitioning from the military rule to presidential democracy in 1999, the problems continue unabated due to bad leadership and the very nature of the animal called politician. Politicians, they say often thinks of next election and in our case 2027. This makes it crystal clear that the solutions to our economic malady is still farfetched giving the kind of political alignments and realignments that is already going on, with little or no attention to the state of the nation, because of the next elections. It is against having hope against hope, that this essay brings into sharp relevance the utilitarian role of music and songs in firing nationalistic and patriotic zeal of the citizens.
Essentially, patriotic musical composition should evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of the people even hopes that abounds as there is always “light at the end of the tunnel”. The famous Jamaican, Eric Donaldson song, which came to the fore in 1978 at the time Nigeria abandoned the original anthem now reverted to falls within the genre and tradition of patriotic music and songs that showcased the rich heritage and resolution of the Jamaican people. It may be interesting to note that Jamaica is a country with common historical experiences with Nigeria in terms of European slavery/ slave trade, colonialism and it assumed independence on 2 August, 1962, while Nigeria attained her on 1 October 1960. History has it that most Jamican slaves came from the region of the present day Ghana, Nigeria and Central Africa, and included the Akan and Ashanti of Ghana, Yoruba , Igbo (Ibo) and Ibibio, among other people of Nigeria. Further plumb into the rich history of Jamaica may reveal and trace Eric Donaldson’s ancestry to Nigeria.
Be that as it may, the web of economic woods and quagmire Nigeria finds itself with the incurable high rate of Japa syndrome makes it increasingly imperative for Nigerian professionals and youths to passionately reflect and ponder on Eric Donaldson’s song, since the government appears to be failing. While going through, one should have Nigeria in mind and put it in places where Jamica appears. Oya, let us go:
“This is the land of my birth, I say this is the land of birth
I say this is Jamaica, my Jamaica, the land of birth
I will never leave her shores, I will never run away
I will always believe in the black, the green and the gold, I say
All nations greater of all the trials, we must face the test of time, that our people they are strong and we going to get along,
For some people say we poor, but the progress you make my friend is not always how rich you are
I say this is the land of birth, I say this is the land of my birth
I say this is Jamaica, my Jamaica, the land of birth
Let us stop for a minute, count our blessings one by one,
We should never be disloyal, but stand up and keep strong
My Jamaica is a beautiful island,
She is the crown of the Caribbean Sea and our people they are free, no oppression here to see
With prettiest women there be and the hills, and the plains and the rivers and the valleys always make on beach
I say this is the land of birth, I say this is the land of my birth
I say this is Jamaica, my Jamaica, the land of birth
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh aah aah aah
Miss tourist, Mr tourist leave your land and come
Tarry here for a while, and I will bathe in the warm sun
We will share a lot with you, our people they are true, they will want to be with you
They will love, they will help, they will give, if you wish my friend you can leave
You will be a happier one in the land of the rising sun
I say this is the land of birth, I say this is the land of my birth
I say this is Jamaica, my Jamaica, the land of birth
I say this is the land of birth, I say this is the land of my birth
I say this is Jamaica, my Jamaica, the land of birth
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh aah aah aah”.
As instructed, we should put Nigeria, in places where Jamaica appears and see how beautiful our dear country is. We cherish its unique diversity, rich heritage and resources; invites foreigners and investors to come, and resolve never to leave its shores or run away. It should be always remembered that, despites all odds, the epic 1914 amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates constructed a unique entity in the world; a country that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sahara Desert; a beautiful country, a richly blessed people, who turned out to become one of the most resourceful, innovative and enterprising people in the world in all fields of human vocation. What makes Nigeria great is not even the rich natural resources, but our diversity and the inner strength the people manifests at all times- good times and bad or challenging times; the beauty of the land and its tourist attractions, the resilience and the flaming hopes of the people.
In summary, our music icons and stars like 2Baba, P- Square, Davido, Wizkid, Kizz Daniel, Black Face, Burna Boy, D’banj, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, M I. Abaga, J. Martins, Banky W, Timaya, among others and the upcoming ones should emulate Eric Donaldson of Reggae tradition. While songs like Nigeria jaga jaga may be pointing to certain social, economic and political reality, positive song and music like that of Eric Donaldson remain the best. The local and traditional artists and musicians should follow this trend too. This is because even the social, economic and political reality of Jamaica at the time the above song was released was not better than Nigeria of today and presently, Jamaica is making positive progress. Those in film industry too, (the Hollywood and Nollywood) should fallow same. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) may invest here and in albums as a way of curbing backdoor migration and reducing the high rate of Japa syndrome in Nigeria through strategic partnership with musicians and film products aside conscious engagement with Federal Government. While all those in entertainment industry and relevant organization have been called for strategic intervention in stemming the tides of Japa through their craft, the ruling political class, which defines the political leadership of the country particularly President Ahmad Bola Tinubu should bring his wealth of experience to bear and show political prowess and will towards reviving Nigerian ailing economy once and for all. This will end the perennial and hectic Japa syndrome of our youths and professionals.
In conclusion, the so called greener pastures are not as greener as at times looked upon from a distance. Even the land of Biblical Sodom and Gomorrah in the eyes of Lot, appear well watered and green, but in reality when he got there the music and practices were entirely different from his cultural upbringing. Outside Nigeria or oversea therefore, is not as greener as popularized as experiences and opinion garnered from experts and travelers would have one believe.
Godwin O. Odeh, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer with the Department of History and International Studies, Sokoto State University, Nigeria with special interest in Youth and Diaspora Studies.
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