Lai Mohammed- A Lot Of Nigerians Cannot Sing National Anthem, Recite National Pledge

The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has urged Nigerians to be patriotic to the country.

According to Vanguard news, Mohammed said most citizens can not sing the National Anthem or recite the National Pledge.

The Minister stated this on Thursday in Abuja during the public presentation of the Mindshift Advocacy for Development Initiative.

Represented by the Director in the ministry, Mr Samuel Soughul, he said a few bad eggs in the society are forming clogs in the wheel of progress for the present administration.

He said, “I think we are making progress. I won’t say all, there are few bad eggs in our society that forming the clog in the wheel of our progress. Let’s start from basics. If you love your country, you must love anything that is associated with your country. You love your country and you love your countrymen, you love the paraphernalia of the state.

“The National Anthem, some of us cannot read, cannot recite, cannot write. Is it the currency of the country, Naira that we abuse? Is it the Constitution that we do not obey its provisions? We have a lot to say but the future is still bright.”

“In 1976, there was a desire by Prof. Felicia Adewole to come up with a contract for citizens to sign with their country, Nigeria and she made a draft which was proved right. That is what we have today as a National Pledge. By following that Pledge, we will not have turbulence around our homes, we will not need bullet-proof vehicles, we will be our brother’s keeper.

“Our tertiary institutions, the award certificates based on the fact that the graduands have been ‘found worthy in character and learning’. Now, President Muhammadu Buhari, having viewed this with concerns, on Thursday, September 8 2016, launched a value-reorientation campaign ‘Change begins with me’.

“This campaign is not a slogan and it should not be associated with party slogan as such. It is a patriotic slogan and campaign – a value-reorientation campaign. What it means is that the change we want should start with us instead of pointing accusing fingers.”