The performance, which took place at a venue yet to be identified, drew loud applause from concertgoers as many in the audience joined the singer in reciting the lyrics before he commenced his performance.
The rendition has since generated widespread reactions on social media because the former anthem was officially replaced with "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" following legislation signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the early months of his administration.
Reacting to a video of the performance which was shared on social media, Yesufu threw her support behind Rema's decision, describing it as a step toward restoring the country's previous national anthem.
"Well done @heisrema. Whatever we need to do to get our national anthem back, we need to do it!" she wrote on her X handle.
She concluded her post with the opening line of the former anthem:
"Arise O Compatriots!"
The activist's comments quickly sparked mixed reactions online.
While some social media users applauded Rema and agreed with Yesufu's call for the return of the former anthem, others defended the reinstatement of "Nigeria, We Hail Thee," arguing that it is now the country's official national anthem and should be respected.
The development adds to the continuing public debate over Nigeria's national anthem, with opinions remaining divided over the Federal Government's decision to replace "Arise, O Compatriots" with **"Nigeria, We Hail Thee."
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