President Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited the National Assembly to mark his one year in office, relaunching Nigeria’s old National Anthem, telling members of the legislative branch of government: “We must not risk this democracy.”
The launch follows the President’s signing of the National Anthem bill seeking to return the old national anthem ‘Nigeria, We hail thee’ into law early on Wednesday morning.
The Nigeria We Hail Thee national anthem was adopted at independence on October 1, 1960 but dropped to the Arise, O Compatriots on October 1, 1978 under the military government of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Tinubu, who spoke after relaunching the old national anthem, admonished Nigerians especially the lawmakers that “we must not risk this democracy.”
He charged them to help “build this nation so that the future of our great grandchildren will be sure of prosperity development and progress.”
According to the President: “The Legislative houses of both sides, colleagues and friends, old and new, to every Nigerian, I say congratulations for 25 years of unbroken democracy. Out of respect, I have come to say thank you very much for building up to this state, building the institution, building the country. You are the first and foremost leaders that speak for our people. And you have been in the forefront of this struggle.
“This institution, the hallowed chambers, represent our consciousness for freedom and sense of belonging. You rang out the latest National Anthem, Nigeria We Hail Thee.
“You see, this is our diversity representing all characters and how we blend together to be brothers and sisters. Without this house, probably I may not find a path to The Presidency. I started off from here. And that is why I have given that respect this morning to you. So, please continue to collaborate, work together to build our country.
“We have no other choice. It is our nation. No one, no aid, no other institution or other personality will help us. Except we do it ourselves, no amount of aids that may be coming from foreign countries or any other nation. They take care of themselves first.
“Let us work together as we are doing to build our nation, not only for us but for generations yet unborn. Charting a new path, the question of programme for development. I submitted the last budget to you, you expeditiously passed it. We are walking the talk. I will soon bring year 2024 appropriation bill, that is just for your information.
“But we must not risk this democracy. Build this nation so that the future of our great grandchildren will be sure of prosperity development and progress.”