Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has appointed Samuel Egube as the new deputy chief of staff.

Gboyega Akosile, chief press secretary to the governor, announced the appointment on Wednesday on his X page.

Akosile said Egube would replace the late Gboyega Soyannwo, the former deputy chief of staff, who died on May 15 after a brief illness at the age of 55.

He added that Egube would be sworn in on Thursday.

Egube was the former commissioner for economic planning and budget in the first term of Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

Egube, who was born on March 5, 1969, is a fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (FCIA), a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (AMNIN), a member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), and an honorary senior member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.

The former Minister of Education, Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili, has said that she would not revert to the old national anthem, newly signed by President Bola Tinubu as the country’s new anthem.

Ezekwesili made this disclosure in a post on her X handle on Wednesday.

According to her, no one can suppress her right to dissent from what she described as an “obnoxious law” repugnant to all who are of good conscience in Nigeria.

The ex-minister said, “Let it be known to all and sundry that I, Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, will, whenever asked to sing the Nigerian National Anthem, sing:

“1. Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey

“To serve our fatherland

“With love and strength and faith

“The labour of our heroes past

“Shall never be in vain

“To serve with heart and might

“One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.”

She added, “2. Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause

“Guide our leader’s right

“Help our youth the truth to know

“In love and honesty to grow

“And living just and true

“Great lofty heights attain

“To build a nation where peace and justice reign.

We had earlier reported that the Senate and the House of Representatives rapidly passed the National Anthem Bill 2024, seeking to reinstate the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

Leading the debate in the lower chamber on the general principles of the bill, the sponsor of the proposed law, Julius Ihonvbere, anchored his argument on the need for patriotism and nationalism.

The 10th Senate passed the bill after reviewing a report by Tahir Monguno, the lawmaker representing Borno North Senatorial District and chair of the Judiciary Committee.

But many Nigerians on social media questioned the relevance of the move, wondering if it would help salvage the nation’s economy, being Nigeria’s biggest challenge at the moment.

Similarly, Ahmad Satomi, a lawmaker representing Jere Federal Constituency, Borno State, challenged the Green Chamber last week regarding the bill.

Satomi questioned the bill’s relevance to Nigeria’s pressing issues, sparking widespread discussion and debate.

President Bola Tinubu has signed the bill on the reintroduction of the old national anthem.

Godswill Akpabio, senate president, announced this at the joint sitting of the senate and house of representatives on Wednesday.

Akpabio said the president signed the bill into law on Wednesday morning.

The senate president also said Tinubu will launch the rendition of the old national anthem during a joint sitting of the national assembly today.

The old national anthem is themed ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’. The one used since 1978 is titled: ‘Arise, O Compatriots’.

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, however disclosed that Tinubu will not deliver a “state of the nation” address as earlier announced because today is not designated as official Democracy Day.

Abbas apologised for the earlier miscommunication on the subject.

On May 23, the house of representatives speedily passed the bill.

On Tuesday, the senate also passed the bill during a public hearing.

While presenting his report on the bill, Tahir Monguno, chairman of the judiciary committee, said his panel disagreed with the position of Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), that the process to change the anthem should be subjected to a wider process.

At a public hearing organised for the bill, Fagbemi had said the decision to change the country’s national anthem should not be done hastily but should be subjected to an extensive process.