Extra: Naira Marley offers to compose national anthem for ‘United Africans Republic’

Naira Marley has joined other Nigerian celebrities like Timi Dakolo and Tacha Akide who have reacted to calls for a change of the country’s name to the “United Africans Republic (UAR)”.

Amid heightened tension in Nigeria, the national assembly is said to have started the process of altering the constitution and making amendments to the country’s laws.

On Wednesday, Adeleye Jokotoye, a Lagos-based tax consultant, had submitted a proposal to the house of representatives committee on the review of the constitution, demanding a change of the country’s name.

In the proposal, Jokotoye had argued that the name — Nigeria — was not coined by a citizen but given to the country by Flora Shaw, wife of Lord Lugard, a colonialist.

His proposal has continued to elicit mixed reactions on social media platforms, especially Twitter, where a huge number of Nigerian users have been sharing their different opinions.

Joining the fray, Naira Marley pledged that he would compose the new national anthem for the country if its name is eventually changed.

“Omo, na me go sing the new national Anthem for UAR,” he wrote in a mixture of English and Pidgin.

Omo Na me go sing the new national Anthem for UAR. 🇳🇬

— nairamarley (@officialnairam1) June 2, 2021

On his part, Dakolo said the proposed name change would alter the country’s extant national anthem.

“Now that you people are planning to change Nigeria’s name to United African Republic, What will I do with my great nation song?! Una dey stress me too much,” he wrote.

Now that you people are planning to change Nigeria’s name to United African Republic, What will I do with My Great nation song?!

Una Dey stress me too much.

— Timi Dakolo (@timidakolo) June 2, 2021

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Also reacting, Tacha said changing the country’s name will not address the challenges confronting it.

“United African Republic?? Renaming Nigeria is not Nigerians problem!! Give us good roads, security, electricity, health care…just give us basic amenities,” she wrote.

United African Republic??
Renaming Nigeria is not Nigerians PROBLEM!! Give us GOOD ROADS, SECURITY, ELECTRICITY, HEALTH CARE.. Just give us BASIC AMENITIES❕

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— TACHA🔱🇳🇬🇬🇭 (@Symply_Tacha) June 2, 2021

In the same vein, Samklef, a singer, said restructuring the country is the only way to bring about meaningful development.

“Restructure Nigeria they no gree now dem wan change Nigeria name lol. Every soon all of una go feel am… You see that railway wey dem do for Niger republic, Na to bring more Fulanis in. If you know you know,” he wrote in Pidgin.

Restructure Nigeria una no gree now dem wan change Nigeria name lol. Every soon all of una go feel am… u see that railway wey Dem do for Niger republic Na to bring more FuLanis in. If u know u know. pic.twitter.com/YX6EnoYoXT

— SAMKLEF ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@SAMKLEF) June 2, 2021

See more tweets below:

Renaming the country United African Republic will not change anything. People just want security, light, good roads and a working economy. Is that too much to ask for?

— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) June 2, 2021

The problem of Nigeria is not the name but the foundation. Changing Nigeria’s name to United African Republic is like when NEPA changed its name to PHCN, still no light. It’s time we stop being Delusional and start facing reality that the only solution to Nigeria is separation.

— Ada-Eze (@Real_AdaKing) June 2, 2021

Must have thought United in the name makes the country rich. United African Republic (UAR) like the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, United States. Lol. Someone spent weeks working on that idea. Probably even got a grant. Lol. I am tired.

— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) June 2, 2021

‘United African Republic’ they wan force the unity on us 🤣

— Samuel Mbah (@Mbahdeyforyou) June 3, 2021

In Nigeria,
We asked for police reforms, they changed uniform

We asked for to endsars, they change name

Prison reforms, they change name to correctional facility

Country Dey boil, na to change name be the Koko

United African Republic kor
Uranium ni

— KiNG D!V!NE Esq (@Divineze) June 2, 2021

Hope changing the name of Nigeria to United African Republic (UAR) won’t cost us $419Billion? pic.twitter.com/WAMgZ2LKvE

— Prince (@OgbeniPrince) June 2, 2021

Nigerian Bar Association is gonna change to “UARBA” and ICAN will change to “ICAUAR” when it’s not bet9ja code ffs 😭

Do you still want United African Republic? pic.twitter.com/Lob6zbz4IQ

— ALAGBADA the BOMB (@BadmanBomb) June 2, 2021

Which one is United African Republic again? I just want to have Light na. pic.twitter.com/eCfM4F6ko7

— 👑 (@lorde_withus) June 2, 2021

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