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| Biafrans have shown Nigeria what real patriotism is |
"Patriotism is an emotional attachment to a nation, which an individual recognizes as their homeland. This attachment, also known as national feeling or national pride, can be viewed in terms of different features relating to one's own nation, including ethnic, cultural, political or historical aspects. It encompasses a set of concepts closely related to those of nationalism An excess of patriotism in the defense of a nation is called chauvinism; another related term is jingoism.’’ Wikipedia.
The literary icon Chinua Achebe in his small but famous and current book , "The Trouble with Nigeria’’ professes that the only trouble with Nigeria is the failure of leadership, because with good leaders Nigeria could resolve its inherent problems such as tribalism; lack of patriotism; social injustice and the cult of mediocrity; indiscipline; and corruption.
In patriotism in Nigeria, let us take the case of Miss Comfort Dazan, the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State student who on Wednesday, Feb 11, 2016 died because the students medical center in the campus could not treat her because of 35,000 naira and worst still when fellow students took her, half dead in the midnight to the federal medical centre (FMC) Oyinbo, she was rejected unless she pays about same amount that led to her demise and subsequent riot by the Yabeth students.This particular incident of neglect by both the schools medical authorities and the federal medical center left a very serious indelible mark on the psyche of the younger generation of Nigerians who then asked questions such as , if our country cannot provide us with basic needs at this stage , why should we be expected to be patriotic citizens of our country.
As I was writing this piece, I read this from a young friend on the Facebook and I copied it verbatim.
"Pride in Being Nigerian?
I've tried to figure out why I should be proud as "NIGERIAN" but haven't found one.
I'm really wondering if there are people who can SINCERELY still say "I'm proud Nigerian".
If at this stage, Nigeria is still grappling with situations that very less-endowed African countries have all conquered, a country with enormous potentials that should have seen her being ranked amongst the best in World rather than amongst the worst-governed in the World, and amongst the worst places to live on Earth, then i have no business being proud as Nigerian.
Don't ask me to work towards finding a solution to Nigeria's endless problems because the people that imagined such MAGIC ended up 'going grey' and 'kicking the bucket' whilst trying.
Reason is: Nigeria's problems are systemically unsolvable. It has come to stay. Believe it or not.
I'll rather seek means of an arrangement that can have self-determination of the different units that make up the failed Nigerian arrangement.
Proud Nigerian? No! I am NOT.
I only take solace in the fact that my Igbo root has given me countless reasons to beat my chest real hard and say, "I'M PROUD IGBO".
As Igbo, "There was a Country" I would have been very proud of. I'm keeping faith to have it back.’’
Tony Kanu
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| No Patriotism, No Nation. Why Nigeria cannot last another decade |
While watching the match between Nigeria and Egypt yesterday, I read the meaning of patriotism in the legs of the Nigerian players and the body language of the officials as opposed to the patriotic zeal coming out from the Egyptian spectators, commentators, coaching crew and indeed the entire Arab nation. The result was a total subjugation of the name Nigeria by Egypt that lives the following questions in my lips: If football , which, hitherto ,had been the only rallying point to make Nigerians feel the identity of a nation can go comatose , what else is holding us together?
If we cannot find a common ground amongst ourselves in the social media (serious hatred exists), in the civil service, no love lost amongst staff at all levels ,in the security arm , the policy is ethnic cleansing of the 4th degree, in the judiciary, masquerades are used to pervert justice, in the national assembly (legislative) ,we just witnessed a Biafra/Nigeria war on the national news by members who want their way always at the peril of others as if the country was instituted for their comfort while others are their southern lady of means ,then come the area father , the executive whose abuse of human rights ,encouragement of sectarianism and all forms of impunities has left the unity of the country gasping for air.
What then are we waiting for , it is the time every sensible Nigerian who has the fear of God/Allah to speak out the truth now which , as Gaddafi opined some years ago before David Mark whose 500 Agatu indigenes are now victims called him a mad dog , divide Nigeria peacefully along ethnic and religious lines now since there is no more bass for one united country. The greatest patriots of our time today are those who can come up now with the truth that the country has to divide for peace to reign instead of another civil war because of oil and as Ojukwu opined at Aburi in 1966.
“It is better that we move slightly apart and survive, it is much worse that we move closer and perish in the collision.”
Related Story:
Related Story:
Igbo hating and the rhetoric of Nigerian ‘PATROTISM’. The vanguard of looming GENOCIDE against Biafrans
-M.M.Mbanaja
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