By SOLA BALOGUN and OLAJIRE ISHOLA
A few hours before the passing away of legendary highlife musician, Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar, the nation lost another great artiste, Pa Benedict Odiase.
He was the man who composed Nigeria's National Anthem. Pa Odiase died Tuesday night in his sleep at his Oregun, Lagos home. His transition, together with that of Rolling Dollar, had left Nigerians in deep mourning. In his tribute, President Goodluck Jonathan has described Pa Odiase as a courageous police officer who lived an exemplary life, and who in death has 'bequeathed an indelible legacy to the nation which will continue to inspire present and future generations of Nigerians to greater heights of accomplishments."
With the death of two great artistes under 24 hours, the Nigerian entertainment sector is once again bereaved, even as the country has recorded the loss of prominent artistes in the recent past.
As a composer per excellence, Odiase wrote and composed Nigeria's National Anthem, Arise O Compatriots, in May 1978. The Federal Government had in that year thrown open the competition to Nigerians to compose the National Anthem. Odiase, like every other Nigerian sent his entry and he was subsequently shortlisted along with two other great composers – Professors Laz Ekwueme and Akin Euba.
Eventually, the Federal Government through Mr. Christopher Oyesiku, leader of the then Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), announced Odiase as winner of the competition and his entry was formally chosen as the country's National Anthem on October 1, 1978.
But despite his achievement as a great composer whose work was selected as Nigeria's National Anthem, Odiase remained a humble and unassuming man till death. He was said to have lived a quiet life at his Oregun home in Lagos.
Last year, when Nigeria turned 52, Pa Odiase disclosed in a media interview how the Musical Copyrights Society Nigeria (MCSN), has handed to him, royalties for his work that were being exploited at various locations around the world.
"I have transferred my intellectual/copyright interest in the work, Arise O Compatriot, being used as the Nigerian National Anthem to the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) from the Performing Rights Society of United Kingdom, for protection since 1998.
This decision to accede my rights to MCSN has paid off handsomely as the society has protected my work and paid royalties to me in hard currencies from the exploitation of my composition around the world and locally," he declared.
On whether he was adequately compensated for the composition, Pa Odiase said there was no immediate reward or commendation but that in December 2001, he received the award of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) from the Federal Government. The late elder statesman joined the Nigeria Police Force in March 1954 and served in the force based on instructions from the Police High Command.
Having served his fatherland for many years, Pa Odiase retired in 1992 as a Deputy Commissioner of Police. He had earlier served as the Director of Music with the Nigeria Police Band.
Via: Sun News Online