Aisha Yesufu Criticizes Festus Keyamo Over Ultimatum to Seriake Dickson

Activist Aisha Yesufu has expressed her dissatisfaction with the 48-hour ultimatum issued by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo to former Bayelsa State Governor and National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson. Keyamo demanded that Dickson clarify whether the NDC officially endorsed the singing of Nigeria's former national anthem, 'Arise, O Compatriots', at a recent party gathering in Lagos State.

Yesufu, in a post on X, questioned Keyamo's position and suggested that Dickson should not feel compelled to respond to the minister's demand. She also criticized the circumstances surrounding the restoration of Nigeria's current national anthem, 'Nigeria, We Hail Thee', arguing that Nigerians were not adequately consulted before the change was made in 2024.

The controversy began after some participants at the NDC town hall meeting began singing 'Arise, O Compatriots' instead of the current national anthem. The incident attracted attention because former Anambra State Governor and NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was among those seen participating in the singing. However, Funso Doherty, the party's Lagos State governorship candidate, explained that the singing was a spontaneous reaction by some participants during an emotional moment at the gathering.

Keyamo argued that a national anthem is more than a ceremonial song, describing it as an important national symbol representing a country's history, values, identity, and sovereignty. He warned that if the leadership of a political organization formally endorsed such an action, it could be interpreted as support for a secessionist movement. The minister subsequently challenged Dickson to publicly state whether the NDC officially supported the use of the former national anthem within 48 hours.

Yesufu's reaction follows Keyamo's statement, in which he described Dickson as his former classmate and friend. The minister stated that the world was waiting for Dickson's response. Keyamo also criticized Obi and other NDC members during an interview, accusing them of showing disregard for Nigeria's national symbols, the law, and the office of the President.

The national anthem controversy has sparked a heated debate, with Keyamo acknowledging that he was not aware of any specific punishment prescribed by law for singing the former national anthem. Nigeria's original national anthem, 'Nigeria, We Hail Thee', was adopted at independence on October 1, 1960, but was replaced by 'Arise, O Compatriots' in 1978. The National Assembly passed legislation to restore the original anthem in 2024, and President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill into law on May 29, 2024.

The issue remains a sensitive topic, with various stakeholders weighing in on the matter.

Key points

• Aisha Yesufu criticizes Festus Keyamo's ultimatum to Seriake Dickson over the national anthem.
• The controversy surrounds the singing of Nigeria's former national anthem 'Arise, O Compatriots' at an NDC gathering.
• The national anthem was changed back to 'Nigeria, We Hail Thee' in 2024, following a law signed by President Bola Tinubu.