*Leads lawmakers to sing adopted old National Anthem
WorldStage Newsonline– President Bola Tinubu has urged the National Assembly to continue to collaborate with the Executive for further development of Nigeria and prosperity of the people
Tinubu said this when he addressed a Joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday in Abuja.
“So please continue to collaborate, work together to build our country, we have no other choice, it is our nation.
” No one, no other institutions or personality will help us except we do it ourselves, no amount of aids that may be coming from foreign countries, or any other nation.
“Let us work together as we are doing to build our nation, not only for us but for our generations yet unborn, ” he said.
Tinubu also urged the lawmakers to: “Nourish this democracy, build this nation, so that the future of our great grand children will be sure of prosperity and progress.
“You are foremost leaders that speak for our people and you have been in the fore front of this struggle.
“Charting a new course and the question for development, I have submitted the last budget, you expeditiously passed it, we are walking the talk.
“I will soon bring the year 2024 supplementary appropriation bill.”
Tinubu commended the lawmakers for their efforts in sustaining democracy.
“This institution, the hallow chamber represents the consciousness for freedom and sense of belonging.
“Without this house, probably, I may not find the part to the presidency, ” he said
Responding, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said, the National Assembly would be expecting the 2024 Supplementary Appropriation Bill for consideration.
OLD NATIONAL ANTHEM
President Tinubu on Wednesday also led a joint sitting of the National Assembly as Nigeria returned to the old National Anthem.
Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, had announced before the joint sitting that a return to the old national anthem would begin from today, following Tinubu’s assent to the bill to that effect.
Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the sitting, along with Akpabio told members to Google the new anthem so they could recite it correctly.
“Those who are over 59 years old will know the wordings,” he said.
Earlier when it was put to vote, the lawmakers agreed that the band should lead the anthem.
Meanwhile, Rep. Bamidele Salam (PDP-Osun), said he was not too keen on the national anthem because it was delivered by the colonial master.
He added that a blend of the old and the new one would have sufficed rather than discarding the old out-rightly.
“Since majority agreed that we should revert, I followed what the majority says, but in my own opinion, we could have done a blend of the two.
” The new national anthem was composed by a foreigner, the old one (Arise o compatriot) was composed by a Nigerian and some of the lyrics also invoke the spirit of nationalism.
“This is in recognition of the sacrifice of our heroes past
Also speaking, Rep. Akin Rotimi, the Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, said that it was a win win situation as the second stanza of the national anthem would now be used as the national prayer.
He said the national anthem is a source of building patriotism.
