{
  "id": 19984003,
  "title": "Old national anthem: Keyamo gives Dickson 48 hours to clarify NDC’s position",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/old-national-anthem-keyamo-gives-dickson-48-hours-to-clarify-ndcs",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T13:44:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/old-national-anthem-keyamo-gives-dickson-48-hours-to-clarify-ndcs-position/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Nigeria, has given National Party Leader Seriake Dickson 48 hours to clarify whether his party supports Nigeria's former national anthem. Keyamo made the demand on social media, emphasizing that the national anthem symbolizes the country's history, values, and sovereignty. He warned that endorsing a different anthem could lead to secession if the group's leader supports the action. Keyamo challenged Dickson, his former classmate and friend, to clarify NDC's position within the given timeframe. The controversy arose after an NDC town hall meeting in Lagos, where attendees sang the former anthem instead of the current one. NDC's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was among those seen participating in the singing. The Federal Government reinstated \"Nigeria, We Hail Thee\" as the national anthem in May 2024, replacing the previous one. The move sparked mixed reactions, with some supporting it as a return to Nigeria's historical identity, while others questioned its relevance amid economic and security challenges.",
  "summary": "Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has given NDC leader Seriake Dickson 48 hours to clarify the party’s position on Nigeria’s old national anthem. Read More: https://punchng.com/old-national-anthem-keyamo-gives-dickson-48-hours-to-clarify-ndcs-position/",
  "key_points": [
    "Minister Festus Keyamo demands 48-hour clarification from Seriake Dickson.",
    "NDC's position on former anthem to be clarified.",
    "Former anthem reinstated in Nigeria in May 2024."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}