PATRIOTISM IN MY NATION, IS IT REALLY WORTH IT?

 

“To Serve Nigeria is Not by Force!” Funny, isn’t it? What kind of statement could this be? Well, it is annoyingly amazing that this very phrase is an inverse form of the phrase; 

“To Serve Nigeria With All My Strength” which is actually a line from the national pledge. The pledge usually comes after the rendition of the national anthem, and is often recited during national events, and compulsorily rehearsed by pupils and students daily on the assembly ground before school activity. A vast number of the citizens (largely the youths) have reticently reverberated the inverse form of this line from the pledge in bid of poking fun at the nation’s unscrupulous and repulsive events with not thanks to our dear leaders who have made little or no effort to curb such rebarbative occurrences ranging from herdsmen homicidal acts, insurgencies, religious and inter-tribal killings, nepotism, kidnappings, bad road orchestrated accidents, corruption, bigotry, unemployment, and many more. 

 It is quite unfortunate that the inverse phrase which is now a careless confession by the average citizen of the country is invoked anytime their loyalty, faithfulness, and integrity to the service of the fatherland is brought to question and that is definitely a far cry from patriotism. The national anthem settles in with the call of the compatriot. The patriotic citizen should answer this reverberating call but is that possible in Nigeria?

Patriotism in this part of the world begs the question, “Is Nigeria indeed worth our sacrificial devotion?” How effective has this clamour for patriotism yielded desired results in our nation? And for how long do we remain wishful dreamers? Looking at the high rate at which citizens are eloping from the country just for greener pastures, apparently, all the herd of cows paraded by the inglorious herdsmen have finished the ones we have here. 

A lot of people are questioning those leaving the country for greener pastures, they claim it is an act of apathy. 

 In recent times, Nigeria has had her citizens question her commitment towards them especially when it comes to security. The upsurge of malevolent and despicable atrocities is fast becoming an unfriendly but familiar news in the nation. According to a publication by Simona Varrella, Feb 24, 2021 “Nigeria has recently been included among countries with the least peace in the world according to the Global Peace Index. It is the 17th less peaceful state and the third country most affected by terrorism based on Global Terrorism Index.”  

A quick flashback to 2020. The hashtag #ENDSARS movement which made a global statement, and spread like wildfire within the nation, and even as far as the diaspora has yielded which recognizable effect in the country? The question is, what has really changed? Have the perpetrators of the Lekki Massacre been brought to book? It is indeed a memorable revolution that will not quickly be forgotten in the nation’s history but to what end? Till date the Chibok incident still remains fresh as yesterday as our Leah Sharibu has become a child making factory for these despicable beasts that reside in the Sambisa forest, and all my government can do is negotiate with terrorists, Deborah, a young Christian girl in the north was murdered mercilessly in the full glare of the public and a religious leader can only praise the youths who carried out this gruesome act. Kwara is currently sitting on a keg of gun powder as religious intolerance is in full play. How can traditional worshippers be denied their rights to worship in a nation where the constitution allows for free worship, the Ondo Church massacre is still a bloody scene with no justice. ISIS, SERAP, Boko Haram, Unknown Gunmen, are names among others that have battered the sanity and security of the nation. 

The end of a saddening regime ushers in another with side attractions as Hike in fuel scarcity, inflation in different sectors of the nation, every time the nation keeps recording several successes in distribution of palliatives in different parts of the state yet no one has ever been a beneficiary of the goodies the government claim to disburse laboriously. Well, at least on this my side of the nation I haven’t seen one soul who has.

 At a certain period, reports of monarchs, even soldiers been slaughtered on the highway became a plaything. 

A country that can’t protect her monarch and military officers. Isn’t this a cruel joke poking us in our earlobes with that sharp object known as failure. At different times in our nation, animals became fugitives because of their cold-blooded criminal records especially when the snake swallowed billions in national office, and even a monkey followed suit then a rat ate up national documents and monies.

I can go on and on recounting several anomalies that have long permeated several milieus in our dear nation.

 Not to be pessimistic but one will not deny that the statement “We (Youths) are the leaders of tomorrow”, have become an overused cliché that has lost its potency and viability, not in years to come. I do not justify practices of corruption but should we blame those in the grass roots for going this route? Too many questions with no answer.

 Conclusively, patriotism in itself is of immense value to bring about a positive change in any country at any given time but is this likely to hold true in Nigeria? 

Let each of us ask ourselves if we are truly ready to live for the country and if need be are ready to die seemingly in vain for her. Beyond patriotism, my belief is that other measures should be put in place if we really want that change to occur, because patriotism is but only one of the ingredients to spur that lasting change and birth the Nigeria of our dreams indeed. Let the leaders exude patriotism by executing their roles effectively because it is from their selfless and relentless commitment to the nation that Nigeria can begin to experience that progressive change.

Again, I ask, are Nigerian leaders truly patriotic? Can the citizens’ patriotism be effective without the leaders’ acting in reciprocation?

 Is it possible that we get to fix our eyes on the true Nigeria we so much desire or is it going to remain right there washed of the terrace of reality and slowly vanishing in that distant dream? Till another time when we’ll meet in another thought-provoking essay, please let’s all stay responsible, and let’s keep dreaming, it’s the least we can do. 

  

About The Author 

Ayowale Akanbi Ogunkunle is a multi-talented individual who encompasses the roles of a Pedagogue, Thespian, and Littérateur. He is currently running his second degree in theatre arts in the Redeemer’s University. He has made significant contributions to the world of literature, and theatre, leaving an indelible mark on those who encounters his works. 

In August 2023, amidst 400 plays submitted worldwide to the famed REBOOT FESTIVAL OPEN SUBMISSIONS that holds annually in the United Kingdom at the Barons Court Theatre/Kibosproductions, his play, VAGUE amazingly, made the shortlist of 36 plays.

His play, CLARK’S REVOLT, an adaptation of J P Clark’s poem, The Casualties, was shortlisted in the AROJAH THEATRE PLAYWRITING COMPETITION held in 2021. 

In the same year in 2021, his thought-provoking creative work titled “THE AVANT GARDE: The Theatre for the Lawful Rebels” made the longlist of the LIBRETTO AFRICAN ANTHOLOGY PRIZE and it is set to be published in their forthcoming anthology.