Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has cautioned that a national anthem alone cannot unite a nation.
According to him, true unity is achieved through the ideals of freedom, justice, and equity.
Speaking at a Democracy Day dinner at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on Wednesday night, Sani urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritize these values to achieve true unity.
He said, "Mr President, I will like to draw your attention to this fact and this truth, A national anthem cannot unite a nation, a national pledge cannot unite a nation, a constitution cannot unite a nation.
"A nation is united by the ideals of freedom, a nation is united by equity and by justice."
Sani stressed that Nigeria's democracy was not a gift from the military or a lucky chance, but a product of struggle and sacrifice. He reminded President Tinubu that he has a duty to succeed, and that his success would be a shared glory for all those who fought for democracy.
"This democracy was not a gift given to us by the military, it was not a lottery that we won, it was a product of struggle and sacrifice.
"Mr President, you have a duty to succeed. If you succeed, we will share your glory because you came from the trenches, you came from that struggle, you came from that period of struggle.
"Mr President, if you fail, they will say that those of you who fought for democracy have nothing new to offer Nigeria."
President Bola Tinubu recently signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, reinstating the old national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee", in a move that sparked debates and criticism.
The anthem, the government said reflects more on the country's unity.
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