The above words are enshrined in The Pledge of the Nigerian National
Anthem, but questions and doubts have always characterized this
pledge. Every school day the National Anthem and the pledge is recited
by school children all across the country with great pride, dignity
and self-esteem, the very notion that we are Nigerians and should
pride ourselves as that, even to the point of giving our lives for her
success and unity. The discrepancy and eccentricity to which we uphold
this pledge is in itself enough to rethink and probably question our
allegiance and patriotism to this great nation. It is no longer news
that a one-time ministerial nominee could not properly recite the
National Anthem (first stanza), this alone cast doubts on how such an
in individual’s patriotic nature can be relied on to even serve as a
minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Realistically, being asked to step aside at international airports for extra search or questioning just because
you are carrying a green passport is a paragon of what patriotism
entails. Being Nigerian come with its heavy duty of at some point
explaining that you are neither a terrorist nor a drug dealer, the
question is how patriotic can one really be? Patriotism can be too much to ask from an ordinary citizen who just lost her husband to police brutality. In the past
patriotism was not forced out of the citizenry but it was just natural
to be in love with your country of citizenship, residents had Nigerian
flags in their cars, homes etc. How did we get to the level of being
scared to be a Nigerian even in the continent of which we are the
acclaimed giant? Is there something wrong with our ‘Nigerianess’? Do
we still have that green and white gene in our DNA?
Anthem, but questions and doubts have always characterized this
pledge. Every school day the National Anthem and the pledge is recited
by school children all across the country with great pride, dignity
and self-esteem, the very notion that we are Nigerians and should
pride ourselves as that, even to the point of giving our lives for her
success and unity. The discrepancy and eccentricity to which we uphold
this pledge is in itself enough to rethink and probably question our
allegiance and patriotism to this great nation. It is no longer news
that a one-time ministerial nominee could not properly recite the
National Anthem (first stanza), this alone cast doubts on how such an
in individual’s patriotic nature can be relied on to even serve as a
minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Realistically, being asked to step aside at international airports for extra search or questioning just because
you are carrying a green passport is a paragon of what patriotism
entails. Being Nigerian come with its heavy duty of at some point
explaining that you are neither a terrorist nor a drug dealer, the
question is how patriotic can one really be? Patriotism can be too much to ask from an ordinary citizen who just lost her husband to police brutality. In the past
patriotism was not forced out of the citizenry but it was just natural
to be in love with your country of citizenship, residents had Nigerian
flags in their cars, homes etc. How did we get to the level of being
scared to be a Nigerian even in the continent of which we are the
acclaimed giant? Is there something wrong with our ‘Nigerianess’? Do
we still have that green and white gene in our DNA?
According to the 1999 constitution as amended
loyalty to the nation must override that of ethnicity or tribe, yet my
right to freedom of movement and safety in any part of the country
cannot be guaranteed. Patriotism might not come easy when the nation
budgets 8% on education as against UNESCO’s 26% minimum budget on
education, while Ghana budgets 31% on education, we are a nation held
hostage by grief and avarice
loyalty to the nation must override that of ethnicity or tribe, yet my
right to freedom of movement and safety in any part of the country
cannot be guaranteed. Patriotism might not come easy when the nation
budgets 8% on education as against UNESCO’s 26% minimum budget on
education, while Ghana budgets 31% on education, we are a nation held
hostage by grief and avarice
In the last Olympic games in London, Nigeria
came back without a medal, while Nigerians won medals for several
countries, the unpalatable way that the country treats her citizen
makes it arduous for one to fully be patriotic . A circumstance where
our corrupt leaders go abroad to treat common cold with tax payers
money and the average citizen is left to die in dysfunctional public
health system does not beg for patriotism.
came back without a medal, while Nigerians won medals for several
countries, the unpalatable way that the country treats her citizen
makes it arduous for one to fully be patriotic . A circumstance where
our corrupt leaders go abroad to treat common cold with tax payers
money and the average citizen is left to die in dysfunctional public
health system does not beg for patriotism.
Patriotism in Nigeria should be viewed from a different
perspective; it is embedded in our local parlance ‘monkey no fine but
e mama like am’. I love Nigeria not because we are blessed with the
best leaders, but because it is the right thing to do, let us see
Nigeria not as a failed nation, but as a rising Nation, love Nigeria
not because her present is great but because her future is delightful
and magnificent. If you have given up on Nigeria because of corruption, terrorism and nepotism it means you want throw away the proverbial baby with the bath water.
perspective; it is embedded in our local parlance ‘monkey no fine but
e mama like am’. I love Nigeria not because we are blessed with the
best leaders, but because it is the right thing to do, let us see
Nigeria not as a failed nation, but as a rising Nation, love Nigeria
not because her present is great but because her future is delightful
and magnificent. If you have given up on Nigeria because of corruption, terrorism and nepotism it means you want throw away the proverbial baby with the bath water.
Let us all see Nigeria not as a sinking ship, but as a ship whose
taxis needs to be meandered to anchor in a better port. Let us carry
the green passport not because it is easy but because it is hard, let
us all be proud to be Nigerians not because we are satisfied with the
position we currently occupy but because we envisage a greater and
better united Nigeria that lives up to its legacy as a leader in
technology and innovation. We should not forget the men and women in
uniform who risk their lives to make sure our country is safe, they
are patriotic enough to serve in the army, navy, air force, police
etc. Let us not judge our dear country with what is wrong with it but
rather with what is right with it. Then we can happily pledge to serve
Nigeria with all our strength to defend her unity….. As we cry for
what we have lost in Nigeria let us not forget to care for what we
have left in Nigeria.
taxis needs to be meandered to anchor in a better port. Let us carry
the green passport not because it is easy but because it is hard, let
us all be proud to be Nigerians not because we are satisfied with the
position we currently occupy but because we envisage a greater and
better united Nigeria that lives up to its legacy as a leader in
technology and innovation. We should not forget the men and women in
uniform who risk their lives to make sure our country is safe, they
are patriotic enough to serve in the army, navy, air force, police
etc. Let us not judge our dear country with what is wrong with it but
rather with what is right with it. Then we can happily pledge to serve
Nigeria with all our strength to defend her unity….. As we cry for
what we have lost in Nigeria let us not forget to care for what we
have left in Nigeria.
Nwagwu Everest
Twitter: @mrprezident
400L Physiology student from College of Medicine of the University of Lagos.
400L Physiology student from College of Medicine of the University of Lagos.
The views expressed above are solely that of the author and not necessarily that Omojuwa.com or its associates.
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