Lai Mohammed, minister of
information, says some Nigerians cannot recite the national anthem.
Mohammed spoke on Thursday in
Abuja at the public presentation of the “Mindshift Advocacy for Development
Initiative”, a campaign for value-reorientation and attitudinal change among
Nigerians.
The minister, who was represented
by Samuel Soughul, a director in the ministry, said as patriotic citizens,
Nigerians are expected to love everything associated with the country.
He explained that “change begins
with me” is not just a slogan but a “value-orientation campaign”.
“I think we are making progress.
I won’t say all, there are few bad eggs in our society that are forming the
clog in the wheel of our progress. Let’s start from basics,” he said.
“If you love your country, you
must love anything that is associated with your country. You love your country
and you love your countrymen, you love the paraphernalia of the state.
“The national anthem, some of us
cannot read, cannot recite, cannot write. Is it the currency of the country,
Naira, that we abuse? Is it the constitution that we do not obey its
provisions? We have a lot to say but the future is still bright.
“In 1976, there was a desire by
Prof. Felicia Adewole to come up with a contract for citizens to sign with
their country, Nigeria, and she made a draft which was proved right. That is
what we have today as a national pledge.
“By following that pledge, we
will not have turbulence around our homes, we will not need bullet-proof
vehicles, we will be our brother’s keeper.
“Now, President Muhammadu Buhari,
having viewed this with concerns launched a value-reorientation campaign
‘Change begins with me’. This campaign is not a slogan and it should not be
associated with party slogan as such. It is a patriotic slogan and campaign – a
value-reorientation campaign.
“What it means is that the change
we want should start with us instead of pointing accusing fingers.”
Sylvanus Nsofor, Nigeria’s
ambassador to the United States, was unable to recite the national anthem
during his screening at the national assembly in March 2017.
The then 82-year-old retired
judge was nominated as a non-career ambassador by the president. He reportedly
told the senate that there was no way he would recite the national anthem.
“Why should I do so?” he
reportedly said. “You should have sent me a syllabus.”
Thereafter, the senate rejected
his nomination because of his old age and his inability to respond to some
issues raised.
“Although he was calm at the
screening, he looked frail and tired. His responses to issues raised were not
answered or devoid of details and mostly satirical,” the senate had said.
However, the president
renominated him and he was later confirmed as an ambassador.
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