Is Nigeria Worth Dying For? By Sabella
O. Abidde
For
much of its existence as a nation-state, Even
before this dissatisfaction and estrangement, Nigerians have never been
at ease belonging to the current geographical entity. The current
situation is like an arranged marriage that neither the bride nor the
groom wants; yet, both parties have no idea about how to go their
separate ways so they are locked in a miserable, unsatisfying and
self-destructive union. It this estrangement and dissatisfaction,
coupled with the mutual suspicion and disrespect between the ethnic
groups that have led to a situation where most Nigerians do not think of
Nigeria as their home; and have no respect, love, loyalty, and trust for
the country and to for her political institutions. Love,
respect and loyalty are the primary ingredients for patriotism.
Nigerians are devoid of these ingredients. Loyalty to the country takes
a back seat to ethnicity. In other words 每 nationalism always trumps
patriotism. Any wonder then that the great majority of Nigerians would
never agree to die for Nigerians
are not bonded by common national goals. Nigerians are not bonded by the
need to thwart or expel external enemies. Nigerians are not bonded by
common ideology or bonded by pure economic interest. Take away the oil
and gas and the various ethnic groups will go their separate ways within
ten-years. Even the common man on the street knows this truth! And so
when President Obasanjo 每 as recently reported by the BCC World
Service 每 said, ※any Nigerian who was not prepared to die for the
country did not deserve to be a Nigerian citizen,§ and that ※the
earlier such a person walked out of Nigeria, the better for the country,§
he was just being devious. The vast majority of Nigerians does not give
a hoot about the country and her institutions. Obasanjo and every other
president before him know this and have known it for years. The
lay man knows that if you die for Nigerian 每 you die for nothing! Most
Nigerian government has simply never cared about the country and about
the people. Imagine what people like Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida
did to fellow Nigerians: they rained terror on our scholars and
intellectuals. Imagine what they did to patriots like Fela Anikulapo
Kuti, Ken Saro Wiwa, Wole Soyinka, Isaac Boro, Gani Fawehinmi, and
countless students and student leaders. For so many years, there
was an open season for arrest, imprisonment, and brutality without
deference to due process of law. And for a great many years 每 and even
today 每 government officials perfected the art of corruption,
thievery, and indifference to the welfare and wellbeing of the common
man. Any wonder then that Nigerians have no sense of gratitude to the
country? There
can be no gratitude to a country that assassinates its best and
brightest? There can be no affection for a country that encourages an
atmosphere of fear and death. There can be no loyalty to a country that
does not provide security, employment and other public goods for the
vast majority of the populace. There can be no trust between a people
and a government that is adept at encouraging mediocrity, favoritism and
ethnic conflicts. Furthermore, because the government has never done
anything worthwhile for its people 每 it is not in a position to repeat
J. F. Kennedy's mantra of ※ask not what your country can do for you
-- ask what you can do for your country.§ Nigeria has not earned this
right. What
then is President Obasanjo talking about? What does he got to say to the
nation and to the family of Bola Ige (the well-liked, well-respected,
eminently devoted son of The
government and the people of American honor the memory of their fallen
patriots. The fallen are given decent burial; and their families are
compensated. Decades after the Korean, Therefore,
for President Obasanjo to be taken seriously there has to be a change of
attitude on the part of the government and on the part of our leaders:
educate the people; provide employment opportunities; foster an
atmosphere of growth and joy; show some love and some understanding; and
show some mercy. Show and prove that you care, and find ways to
ameliorate some of the gaping cleavages and injustice. Then, may be
then, Nigerians will reciprocate the love, trust and loyalty --
otherwise, the vast majority of Nigerians would be unshaken in their
conviction that Nigeria is not worth dying for. |