Shehu Sani emphasized to President Bola Tinubu that national unity is not achieved solely through symbols like the national anthem or pledge, nor by a constitution alone. Instead, he underscored that the true foundations of unity lie in ideals such as freedom, equity, and justice.
Speaking at a dinner ceremony marking Nigeria’s Democracy Day and the 25th anniversary of uninterrupted democracy, Sani expressed, “Mr. President, I want to highlight this fact and 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, equity, and justice.”
He further stressed that democracy in Nigeria was not simply bestowed but was achieved through significant struggle and sacrifice, not least by individuals like Tinubu who played pivotal roles in its attainment.
Sani’s comments come in the context of Tinubu’s approval of the National Anthem Bill, which resulted in changing the anthem’s lyrics from “Arise, Oh Compatriots” to “Nigeria we hail thee,” a move that sparked controversy and public debate on governmental priorities.
Additionally, Sani urged Tinubu to effectively implement reforms, affirming that his success in governance would reflect positively on all who championed democracy, while failure could diminish their legacy.
In essence, Sani’s message to Tinubu was a call to prioritize the core values of freedom, equity, and justice as the bedrock of national unity and progress in Nigeria.