President Bola Tinubu has said reintroduction of the old national anthem was a priority for him.
He said this on Thursday in a meeting with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF)in Abuja.
Recall that the former national song, “Nigeria, we hail thee,” was reinstated after the President signed the legislation. According to Tinubu, he and the national parliament decided that changing the national anthem should be a top priority.
“Let me allude to something that happened yesterday. The change of national anthem, ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’,” he said.
“Some people say, okay, say what? Is that your priority? It’s my priority. I agree with the National Assembly. If they make law, I’ve got to obey that law, or we disagree openly, and close the chapter.
“But the question of diversity. Who gave us the name Nigeria? Is it not Britain? Or somewhere? Have we changed our name? We are Nigerians. Our passport shows that.
“As long as we are Nigerians and one family, we remain and protect our diversity and love one another as brothers and sisters.
The president said he viewed the making of appointments as a Nigerian project not a south and north issue.
“For Nigeria to be united. I’m glad the SGF had mentioned the appointment. I don’t see it as the north and south,’ he added.
“I see it as a Nigeria project. Thank you. The question of who you are, you have no control over
“iIt is God Almighty that puts you in that particular place and makes you a member of that family. You have no control over it.
“When I came begging for votes, I didn’t say vote for me as a Yoruba man, I said vote for me as Bola Ahmed Tinubu. All of you accept me, and I could see the result. I’m adding on to that mandate jealously and I’m working my heart out.”
Reintroducing Nigeria’s historic national song is just one more way that President Bola Tinubu is promoting unity among the nation and recognizing its diversity. Tinubu hopes to bring back the sense of cohesion and communal pride that defined Nigeria’s early post-independence years by resurrecting “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.” The idea has generated a range of responses, but it underscores the significance of national symbols in defining a nation’s identity and fostering unity. Initiatives like this can be crucial in promoting a sense of pride and unity among Nigerians as they traverse the country’s complex social, economic, and political landscape. In the end, the effectiveness of these initiatives will be determined by the government’s capacity to tackle the more significant issues confronting the country and advance inclusive and efficient governance.
