Why I signed old national anthem into law – Tinubu breaks silence

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given reason for the reintroduction of the old national anthem.

According to Tinubu, during a meeting with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at the State House in Abuja, reverting to the old national anthem was a priority for him.

The Nigerian leader added that he did not have a choice but to obey as it is the National Assembly who made the law.

He said Nigeria’s diversity should be protected and celebrated, adding that the country’s population should not be seen as a burden.

He 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.”

“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.

“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.”

Recall that in 2022, Tinubu in an interview said he would bring back the first national anthem if he had his way.

Two years later, Tinubu signed a bill into law that returned the old national anthem themed: ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’.

The return of the old anthem sparked mixed outrage amongst Nigerians and celebrities alike, as they queried the government for prioritizing the national anthem given the plethora of challenges, including  hardship confronting Nigerians.