By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday stated that no amount of aid from foreign countries or any other nation will fix Nigeria because “they take care of themselves first.”
The President said this when he appeared before a joint sitting of the National Assembly in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Tinubu’s visit to the lawmakers comes as the nation marked 25 years of unbroken democracy.
The President stepped into the parliament at 12:28pm, accompanied by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima.
Upon his arrival, the lawmakers recited the new national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee” which the President had earlier signed into law.
He briefed the MPs and praised them for their efforts in preserving the nation’s democracy for over two decades.
He continued: “Out of respect, I want to say thank you very much. This is the institution building the country.
“Our friends, old and new, to every Nigerian, I say congratulations to 25 years of unbroken democracy.”
“You rang out the latest national anthem, ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’. This is our diversity, representing all characters and how we blend to be brothers and sisters.
“We have no other choice; it is our nation. No other institution or personality will help us unless we do it ourselves. No amount of aid from foreign countries or any other nation (will fix us), they take care of themselves first. Let us work together as we are doing to build our nation, not only for us but for generations unborn.”
The Senate and the House of Representatives had previously passed the legislation to swap the national anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” at separate sittings.
Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria during its independence, penned the lyrics for “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” while Frances Berda composed the music. The anthem played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s national identity and unity during the 1960s and late 1970s.
He said, “Without this house (parliament), probably, I may not have found the path to the Presidency. It started all here. Please, continue to collaborate and work together. We have no other choice. It is our nation.”