These days, it’s difficult to find Nigerians who are satisfied with the manner in which things are proceeding in their country. State governors, Northern elders, Muslim clerics, Pentecostal pastors, newspaper editors, opinion columnists, human rights advocates, foreign governments, young Nigerians and ethnic nationalists all criticise practically every aspect of President Buhari’s administration. In reaction, government has “circled the wagons” and pre-occupies itself with stopping critics from publicising their views, rather than taking onboard suggestions as to how to improve things. The only people expressing unalloyed support are those feeding fat off the nation’s purse.
It is trite that the truth doesn’t mind being questioned, but lies don’t like being challenged! One of the ways in which the federal government seeks to end challenges to its lies is by labelling its critics as “unpatriotic”, and stressing that they have no doubts as to what they are doing. As Charles Bukowski famously said, “the problem with the world is that intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence!” Those calling for the President to be somehow replaced by force or trickery are committing treason. His constitutional term of office expires in 2023. However, this doesn’t mean that expressing points of view different from those of government is treasonable, or unpatriotic.
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Federal government spokespersons routinely indulge in self-praise, aren’t open to any debate or discussion for the betterment of the nation, can’t stand political dissent, and confuse their selfish tendencies with patriotism. Nobody should expect this administration to change for the better. They have no intention of doing so and it is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance. Rather than wasting time, energy and effort complaining or trying to reform a failed administration, all efforts should be concentrated upon what is to come next.
Nigerians proclaim their love for the nation while at the same time criticising almost every aspect of governance. The trending opinion is “I love my country, but not its political leaders!” This “love” manifests itself only during international football or sporting competitions. Most of their time, Nigerians are too far busy scratching out a living and trying to avoid the murderous slaughter that has become a daily routine! In looking for leaders of tomorrow who have the intellectual ability to move the nation forward, repair the damage done, and have any real hope of salvation in the near future, Nigerians must stop looking backwards towards those responsible for the mess in the first place.
Nigerians need to make a clear distinction between nationalists who seek high political office and patriots who don’t. The former love themselves, are egoistically proud to occupy high political office and will praise government no matter how bad things are, while the latter love their country and are honest in their assessment of its successes and failures,! Nationalism is based upon the premise that an individual’s loyalty and devotion to their country should come above all other interests. It breeds the kind of people who trumpet a country’s virtues, deny its deficiencies and are contemptuous towards citizens.
Patriots on the other hand are attached to a homeland, love and adore the place where they were born or are now citizens of, and do not deny their nation’s deficiencies but rather openly accept them and are eager and ready to correct them for the better. When Carl Shurz, an American General who emigrated from Germany, was accused of being too willing to criticise his adopted country, he replied: “my country, right or wrong: if right, to be kept right; if wrong to be set right.” This was the voice of a reasonable patriot.
Patriotism nurtures a feeling of responsibility while nationalism breeds blind arrogance and denial of widespread disaffection. Patriots say “I love my country and am proud of it but will speak up if something is wrong”, while nationalists like those currently in power say “I love my country and I will not stand anyone who speaks ill of it no matter what!” Patriots try to understand all points of view while nationalists despise any form of discussion which points out errors or failures in governance.
The United States of America (USA) is often seen as the birth place of patriotism based on values and beliefs. People become Americans not because of their religion or ethnicity, but because they affirm they are prepared to defend the country’s basic principles and institutions. In the US patriotism denotes pledging loyalty to the Constitution and the ideals on which the nation was founded, and not loyalty to the government currently in power.
Nationalism emphasises a unity of cultural past including language and heritage. Nigerians, like Americans, aren’t descended from the same ancestors, don’t speak the same language, don’t profess the same religion, and are not similar in their manner and customs. Before being colonised, there was no place known as Nigeria, and there was no unity among its indigenous peoples. The different nationalities that occupied the land had only one thing in common, the colour of their skin. There really is no basis for nationalism in Nigeria, as it is alien to our culture and very existence.
Encouraging patriotism is the way forward. Unfortunately, as far as the federal government is concerned, being patriotic these days means praising government to high heavens while condoning ethnic genocide, supporting nepotism and religious bigotry, being unconcerned about the rape and murder of unarmed law-abiding citizens, supporting the destruction of farms, burning of villages and appropriation of ancestral lands, as well as not caring about the collapsed economy, massive ongoing corruption, or growing nationwide insecurity. As George Orwell famously said; “if liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear”. Perhaps it’s a good thing that increasing numbers of Nigerians are “unpatriotic”. After all it’s not a crime!
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