Keyamo Insists NDC Erred in Singing Old National Anthem During Townhall Meeting in Lagos

Chinedu Eze reports that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has refuted claims that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) could justify the singing of the old national anthem during a townhall meeting in Lagos. On November 12th, the NDC held a meeting at the Classic Event Centre, Oregun Ikeja, where the old anthem was performed instead of the new one.

However, Keyamo pointed out that the All Progressives Congress (APC) also sings 'On Our Mandate', but insists this is not an appropriate replacement for the national anthem. He further clarified that singing 'On Our Mandate' is not the same as replacing the legally recognized national anthem and that supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu never perform this song as a substitute.

Keyamo emphasized that the new national anthem should be sung before or after the old one, and that 'On Our Mandate' is merely an instrumental played by the Police Band as a presidential protocol. He also noted that many states in Nigeria have their own anthems, which are sung after the national anthem. Keyamo described the NDC's actions as a desire for secession and called it an expression of disunity.