The
composer of the current National Anthem, Arise O Compatriots, Pa Benedict
Odiase, MON, is dead.
Mr
Odiase died Tuesday night in his sleep. He composed Arise O Compatriots” in May
1978.
Pa
Odiase retired in 1992 as a Deputy Commissioner of Police after being the
Director of Music with the Nigeria Police Band.
“Arise,
O Compatriots” replaced Nigeria, We Hail Thee. The lyrics are a combination of
words and phrases taken from five of the best entries in a national contest.
The
words were put to music by the Nigerian Police Band under the directorship of
Pa Odiase.
Credits
to pointblanknews.com
