Lai Mohammed Says Many Nigerians Can’t Sing National Anthem, Recite Pledge

The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says many Nigerians today can neither sing the National Anthem nor recite the National Pledge.

Lai Mohammed stated at the public presentation of the Mindshift Advocacy for Development Initiative in Abuja on Thursday, October 17, 2019.

The minister who was represented at the programme by a director in the ministry, Samuel Soughul, said as patriotic citizens, Nigerians are expected to love everything associated with the country.

He lamented that despite the federal government’s effort to reposition the country for greatness, few bad eggs in the society continue to constitute a clog in the wheel of progress.

“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.”

Mohammed continued: “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.

Meanwhile, Lai Mohammed had also claimed that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has sent corruption “under the carpet”.

The Minister also alleged that 55 Nigerians shared a whopping sum of N1.3 billion during the past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, which is equivalent to what the present administration had spent on infrastructure development in four years.