VIDEO: A Mistake or Incompetence? Public Outrage as Tinubu and Ministers Recite Revoked National Anthem

A wave of intense public criticism and outrage has hit the presidency following a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting where President Bola Tinubu and his cabinet ministers were captured reciting the revoked national anthem, "Arise, O Compatriots.".The incident, which quickly flooded social media platforms, has sparked a fierce national debate regarding the leadership’s attention to detail, administrative competence, and respect for the country's legal frameworks.A Glaring Protocol FailureFor many critics, the recitation of a legally defunct anthem inside the highest chambers of executive power represents a significant failure in state protocol. Nigeria officially replaced "Arise, O Compatriots" with the current anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee," on May 29, 2024.Commentators and political analysts argue that the FEC chamber should be the absolute standard for policy compliance. Seeing the President and the entire cabinet fail to recite the active, lawful anthem has left many questioning the internal organization and coordination within the Presidential Villa.Public Reactions: Mistake or Incompetence?The public reaction across social media has been overwhelmingly critical, with citizens demanding accountability for the mix-up:Questions of Incompetence: Many Nigerians are calling the event a display of institutional incompetence, pointing out that the presidency pushed heavily for the anthem change in 2024, only for its own top officials to revert to the old one.Loss of Confidence: Critics argue that if the executive arm of government cannot seamlessly execute a basic civic requirement like singing the correct national anthem, it raises concerns about their handling of more complex national policies.Demands for Oversight: Civil society voices are calling for strict oversight of the State Protocol Department, arguing that such public oversights diminish the dignity of the office of the President.The Broader ImplicationsBeyond the immediate embarrassment, political observers note that symbols of state authority require absolute consistency. When top government officials deviate from established state symbols, it sends a confusing message to the public and the international community about the administration's internal alignment.