ECWA President hails Tinubu for revisiting old national anthem, says original tune be maintained

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Jos – The President of the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, Rev. Stephen Panya has stated that the revisited National anthem best describes the aspiration of Nigeria as a country and appealed that the original tune of the anthem be maintained to make it more meaningful.

Panya spoke with journalists on Thursday ahead of the end of his tenure saying he is convinced that the lyrical content of the revisited anthem serves as a unifying anthem that embodies the nation’s spirit of unity, progress, and resilience.

Speaking on sundry issues including his achievements in the office in the last six years was marked by significant progress that cut across spiritual and physical development.

His words, “… If you look at the old national anthem, it best describes the yearning and aspirations of citizens of Nigeria than the one that was later composed. I have heard a version with drums, I want to plead that the old music of the anthem be maintained because it makes it more serious, it has a more serious touch, it should not be used for disco dance.

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“The older anthem more accurately encapsulates the collective aspirations of the nation and, therefore should be returned with its original music. The lyrical content of the former anthem resonates deeply with the core values and ambitions of the Nigerian people, serving as a unifying anthem that embodies the nation’s spirit of unity, progress, and resilience…”

He hailed President Bola Tinubu for assenting to the reversal and urged Nigerians to take pride in singing the anthem.