President Bola Tinubu says returning the old national anthem was always a priority for him.
Tinubu spoke on Thursday during a meeting with the
leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at the presidential villa in
Abuja.
On May 29, Tinubu enacted the legislation that returned the
old national anthem themed: ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’.
The return of the old anthem had divided opinions, with some
commentators criticising the move as yet another case of “misplaced priority”
given the plethora of challenges confronting Nigerians.
“Let me allude to
something that happened yesterday. The change of national anthem, ‘Nigeria, we
hail thee’,” Tinubu 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.”
Tinubu said Nigeria’s diversity should be protected and
celebrated, adding that the country’s population should not be seen as a
burden.
“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,” he said.
“As long as we are Nigerians and one family, we remain and
protect our diversity and love one another as brothers and sisters.
“It 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.”
In 2022, Tinubu had said he would bring back the first
national anthem “if I have my way”.
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