Joe Igbokwe, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has criticized activist Aisha Yesufu for disrespecting the new national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.” Yesufu refused to stand for the anthem at a recent event, instead sitting down while others stood. She posted a video of her action on social media, captioned “#NotMyNationalAnthem.”
President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law on Wednesday, reinstating “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the national anthem. The anthem, originally introduced in 1960, was replaced in 1978 by “Arise, O Compatriots.”
Igbokwe condemned Yesufu’s behavior on his Facebook page, calling it “nonsensical” and warning that it could harm her and her family. He wrote, “Aisha Yesufu cannot respect the National Anthem. Let us see where all the nonsensical behaviour will take her to. She may not understand the damage she is doing to herself and her family. Continue.”
Yesufu responded to Igbokwe’s criticism with a laughing emoji and a message asking him to consider whether his family is proud of his actions.
The incident sparked a national debate, with some supporting Yesufu’s right to protest and others condemning her actions as disrespectful. Critics accused Yesufu of inconsistency in her activism, while supporters defended her right to express dissent against government actions.
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