Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo accuses Nigeria’s main opposition NDC of secessionist tendencies after party figures and supporters sing Nigeria’s old national anthem during a Lagos town hall. Keyamo says Seriake Dickson, the NDC national leader, must clarify within 48 hours whether the party endorses the “proscribed” anthem as a national symbol. He links the act to disobedience of the legally prescribed anthem and says it could be part of secessionist groundwork.
The incident cited by outlets involves the May 2024 event where supporters sang “Arise O’ Compatriots” in response to prompts to stand for the national anthem, with Peter Obi reportedly facing the crowd as the song was repeated and making hand gestures associated with the NDC. Outlets also note the proceedings were disrupted by attackers who invaded the venue with weapons, causing participants to scatter.
Across coverage, the focus is on Keyamo’s accusation and his demand for clarification. While some outlets emphasize the “secessionism” framing, others also highlight Keyamo’s broader comments clarifying that certain campaign songs used at official events are not meant to replace the national anthem.
