President Bola Tinubu has called on all Nigerians to work together for the growth and development of Nigeria irrespective of diversity.
The president said this at the Joint Session of the National Assembly shortly after signing the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law.
While congratulating Nigerians for 25 years of unbroken democracy, he thanked the national assembly for its role in sustaining democracy.
He further commended their determination to chart a new course for Nigeria by passing the National Anthem Bill, 2024, which reverts to the old Anthem, “Nigeria We Hail Thee”.
Tinubu said, “Out of respect I have come to say thank you.
“This institution, the Hallow Chamber represents our consciousness for freedom and sense of belonging.”
He said the new national anthem spoke to the need for Nigerians to remain united in spite of their diversities.
The president called on the national assembly to continue to work with the Executive for a better Nigeria.
“Without this House probably I may not find the path to Presidency. I started from here,”he said.
He urged the lawmakers to continue to work to build the country, adding that, “we have no other.
“No institution or personality will help us except we do it ourselves.”
Tinubu added that no amount of aids from foreign countries would be sufficient, stressing that “they take care of themselves first.”
He thanked the legislature for the expeditious passage of the 2024 Budget, while urging them to do same when the 2025 Budget is presented before them.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended Tinubu for signing the National Anthem Bill.
He said, “henceforth we refer to ourselves as brothers and we say today Nigeria we hail thee.
“There is no better place to commence our geneology than the National Assembly; the voice of the national assembly is the voice of Nigeria.”
He expressed the national assembly’s readiness to work on the 2025 budget as soon as it is presented, saying, “we will be expecting the budget as soon as possible.”
On his part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas assured that the national assembly would continue to support policies of government for the growth of the nation.
“We will be always be supportive of your polices.
“We want to thank you for bringing back the national anthem we grew up with.
“For the young ones, if you read it line by line it inspires hope.
“So, if we can follow it line by line it will help us to achieve a greater Nigeria.”
QuestNews reports that highpoint of the event was the signing of the new national anthem “Nigeria We Hail Thee, which will henceforth be used in place of Arise O Compatriot.