NUJ president Chris Iziguzo says the country’s new anthem captures the core of being Nigerian.

Mr Isiguzo said this in an interview on Sunday in Abuja.

He said, “Look at Nigeria. We have different languages and tribes. This anthem better unites us regardless of our differences. The new anthem of ‘Nigeria we hail thee’ says a lot about us as one country with one destiny. However, I think the first thing they would have done was to put the old and new on the table side by side and review it.

“If, in the wisdom of the president and members of the National Assembly, we should revert to the old anthem, why not? After all, it highlights the fact that we have different tribes and tongues in one nation and yet we still exist as one. So be it.”

President Bola Tinubu signed the ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ Bill 2024 into law on May 29.

The return of the old anthem elicited divergent views, with some commentators criticising the move as yet another case of “misplaced priority” given the slew of challenges confronting Nigerians.

Mr Tinubu said that returning the old national anthem was his priority.

Mr Tinubu made this known during a meeting on Thursday with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at the presidential villa in Abuja.

Mr Tinubu said Nigeria’s diversity should be protected and celebrated, adding that the country’s population should not be seen 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,” he said. “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.”

(NAN)