Keyamo Says Only Irresponsible Nigerians Will Vote for NDC Over National Anthem Controversy

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has criticised the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over the controversy surrounding the singing of Nigeria’s former national anthem at a political gathering in Lagos, saying only irresponsible Nigerians would vote for the party.

Keyamo made the remarks on Friday during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, monitored in Abeokuta.

The minister was reacting to an incident at an NDC political gathering in Lagos on Thursday, where the party’s presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, its Lagos governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, and other supporters sang the former national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, instead of the current anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots”.

The former anthem was replaced in 1978 before being restored in May 2024 by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Reacting to the development, Keyamo drew a comparison with criticisms directed at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that Nigerians should apply similar standards when assessing the opposition party.

“Like they say of APC, they say it’s only mad men that will vote for APC. So let me return the campaign slogan, it’s only irresponsible people that will vote for that type of party called NDC that defy national symbols. It’s only irresponsible that will vote for them,” he said.

He argued that the conduct of the NDC members raised questions about their attitude towards national symbols, the law and the office of the President they aspire to occupy.

According to him, Nigerians should consider whether individuals who allegedly disregard national symbols and institutions demonstrate the responsibility required to lead the country.

Keyamo further claimed that the incident could affect the party’s support among moderate and intellectually minded voters.

“They have lost the cerebral and the in-betweens. They have lost them by that action. Maybe those who are downright irresponsible, they will hail them and they will vote for them. But we’ll see on election day how many Nigerians are irresponsible,” he added.

However, when asked whether singing the former national anthem amounted to a violation of the law, the minister acknowledged that he was unaware of any specific penalty prescribed for such an action.

He explained that although the current national anthem had been adopted through legislation, the law did not provide a specific punishment for anyone who failed to sing it.

“There’s no penalty that is prescribed by law. No penalty. The law just says this is our new national anthem and then you should think we should all abide by it. It becomes a crime when there’s a penalty attached to it,” Keyamo said.

He maintained that he considered the incident an act of political defiance rather than an offence carrying a specific legal punishment, adding that Nigerians would ultimately determine its political implications at the polls.