THE NATION – OUR ANTHEM
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. – Wikipedia
The Nigerian National Anthem as a musical composition that evokes to mind the history, achievement and responsibility of every single entity residing within the geographical terrain of the Nation.
Arise, O compatriots. “Arise” means to emerge; become apparent. Simply put, the time has come. It is now! A “Compatriot” is a native or inhabitant (a person that is a permanent resident of a place) of one's own country. Nigeria, has since 1978, been calling you, her compatriots, to rise to the occasion of becoming apparent to a certain responsibility.
Nigeria's call obey. There is a summon by the nation wherein you inhabit. It is expedient for you to note that being called by your country of residence is a privilege and never a right.
To serve our Fatherland. The call is very simple – to be useful in the land of your ancestors. Service to the land of your origin can never be wrong. We live in a land where the destination is to become a Nation (a large body of people, associated with a particular territory, that is sufficiently conscious of its unity to seek or to possess a government peculiarly its own), but unfortunately those who have been given the mandate to serve are being served, and so we have remained a country (any considerable territory demarcated by topographical conditions, or by a distinctive population).
With love and strength and faith. Service to your fatherland has been guided by the founding fathers. A good servant must possess Love, Strength, and Faith in order to be successful in Nation building. By “Love”, Nigeria means a strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for her. Without compensation, a gratuitously act of obedience is the significance of a love-infested compatriot.
The strength of a compatriot is what determines the speed of the execution of the primary duty. Strength can be said to be the power by reason of influence, authority, resources, and/or numbers. This, simply put, is the PUSH of the assignment. One who has got influence, authority and resources and is lukewarm to his/her primary assignment as a Nigerian is said to be a liability to the nation – considered a salt without its flavour.
Faith is a strong or unshakeable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence. The founding fathers of Nigeria having the future (present) in mind, thought it wise to include this as a quality of a true compatriot. The current state of affairs Nigeria finds herself in is one that needs a compatriot that possesses a lot faith so as to talk these affairs selflessly.
The labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain. The difficult or arduous work or effort of those who had distinguished courage and ability that showed in the discharge of their primary assignment to Nigeria should not be trashed without real significance, value, or importance. This is because these works have proven over the years to be productive.
To serve with heart and might. Service to Nigeria is best served with the heart. This is because the heart is the centre of the total personality, especially with reference to intuition, feeling, or emotion. And it takes a heart full of Nation-Responsibility to be able to serve with such enthusiasm and faith. The apt ability to respond to the call of Nigeria defines the true compatriot who is ready to serve.
One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity. In 1914, the British formally united the Niger area as the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. Administratively, Nigeria remained divided into the Northern and Southern provinces and Lagos Colony. By the middle of the 20th century, the great wave for independence was sweeping across Africa. Nigeria became independent in 1960.
The wave of independence responsible for the success of 1960 contains three things: Freedom, Peace, and Unity. The success of a nation is determined by the foundation of the minds that exist within the country.
When you possess the mind that is set on freedom, peace and unity for your fatherland, you are part of the driving force that makes effectual use of your influence, authority and resource to build The Nation – Nigeria.