Respect National Symbols - FG Appeal To Nigerians

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir Lawal, who stated this on Wednesday at the 4th Edition of the National Ordinance day 2015 which held in Government Secondary School Garki Abuja, also emphasized the need for the right flag to be used as well as the coat of Arm obeyed.

The SGF, who was represented by Mrs. Ibukun Odusote empathized that the flag should be green-white-green and not green-yellow or green-green-green adding that there is also the need for our children to know that right from their youths.

According to him; “They should have respect for our symbols so that we don’t ride upon our symbols. Another thing is our coat of Arms, in a number of publications, you see the Coat of Arms, you see horses that are red; you don’t see horses that are red, the horses we have there are stallions, they are white horses so we want to see them as white”.

Lawal also urged Nigerians to avoid folding the flag and should also have respect for the Nigerian currency by keeping it clean and straight often.

Speaking in turn, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri enjoined Nigerians to respect and honour the national flag and other symbols as well as complement the patriotism displayed by the founding fathers of the country and the military to promote unity.

This is as he also said the positive sides of history should be deliberately repeated instead of the negative thus called on the citizens to exhume and bring back the virtues of patriotism, nationalism and vision that its founding fathers had.

Omeri also urged Nigerians to obey the colours of the National Flag in order for the symbols to engineer the citizens to do what is right for the good of the country and progress of the nation.

He noted that the law to prosecute offenders caught in the misuse or mishandling of the national flag is not stiff enough, adding however that the NOA is working to prosecute offenders through paying of fines or even jail terms.

He said; “Indeed, the Flag, Coat of Arms, currency, international passport, National Identity Card, National Anthem and pledge, presidential portrait, constitutions etc. represents sacred symbols of our national good which should command respect and admiration of all citizens, so that citizens of other nations can also respect and admire our national symbols and indeed our beloved nation Nigeria”.

While emphasizing that it is an individual task to sustain the change the country desires, Omeri noted that the event is being marked in a school to enable the students learn, understand and appreciate what the symbols are and what they should mean; adding also that most parents do not know how to recite the national anthem which he said is a major challenge.

The commemoration of the National Ordinance Day is held to reawaken the consciousness of Nigerians of the significance and symbolism of the national symbols.