Members of the House of Representatives were at yesterday’s plenary divided over a bill that seeks to change the nation’s motto from ‘Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress’ to ‘Justice and Equity, Peace and Progress.’
The bill titled; “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by changing the motto of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from ‘Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress’ to ‘Justice and Equity, Peace and Progress,’ thereby creating strong political will to achieve political objectives in the country and for other related matters,” was sponsored by Hon Chris Emeka Azubogu (APGA, Anambra).
Trouble, however, started after the sponsor, Hon. Azubogu, moved a motion that the bill be read the second time, appealing to his colleagues to also amend the bill to read ‘Unity and Faith, Justice and Equity, Peace and Progress.’
Azubogu had, in his presentation, said there was a compelling need to change the motto to a new one to reflect the realities on ground, stressing that the absence of justice and equity was part of the problems bedeviling the country today.
He was supported by Hon. Matthew Omegara (APGA, Imo), who argued that it was not out of place to amend the motto, because it can foster the unity that is already contained in the motto. However, the bill met stiff opposition in Hon. Chris Etah (PDP, Cross River), who argued that there was nothing wrong with the subsisting motto of ‘Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.’
He argued that unity and peace are inherent in the ‘unity and faith,’ so they should discountenance the proposal. Also kicking against bill, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, said the proposed amendment was too long, explaining that the present motto was apt and should not be tampered with.
But Hon. Friday Itulah (PDP, Edo), observed that 50 years after independence, there was need to review the entity called Nigeria, saying that that was what the ongoing conference was all about
Source: New Telegraph
