President Bola Tinubu said returning the former national anthem was always his priority.
Tinubu spoke on Thursday at the presidential palace in Abuja, during a meeting with the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) leadership.
On May 29, Tinubu signed legislation that reinstated the former national anthem, ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’.
The restoration of the old anthem sparked debate, with some critics dismissing the move as yet another example of “misplaced priority” in the face of Nigeria’s numerous issues.
Tinubu said:
“Let me allude to something that happened yesterday. The change of national anthem, ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’”.
“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 stated that Nigeria’s diversity must be safeguarded and appreciated, and that the country’s people should not be viewed 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”.
“As long as we are Nigerians and one family, we remain and protect our diversity and love one another as brothers and sisters.
“God Almighty 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”.