नाईजीरिया थे हेर CITIZENS

NIGERIA AND HER CITIZENS

Years back when I was living in Owerri, there was a young man in my neigbourhood at Mpama Egbu who always said that if he can find a willing buyer he would be glad to sell off Nigeria and pocket the proceeds. We use to laugh at him and called him a thief and all kind of abusive names. But he was adamant and always retorted that he would not blame us rather if only he could find a buyer we would not have the opportunity to insult him as we would have all been slaves by then. The question is what would make a man to decide to sell off his fatherland? Is it hatred for ones country? Is it frustration? Or is it lack of patriotism?

Why are Nigerians not proud of their country? Why are we not ready to die for our country as in other climes? What is the problem with Nigeria? What is the problem with Nigerians? Nigerians are wont to say that they country is not worth dying for and this may be the reason for the seemingly lack of patriotism for the country by its citizens.

During my NYSC orientation at the Arugungu Fishing Village in Kebbi state I learnt another version of the Nigeria pledge and it went thus “I pledge to Nigeria my Country/ To be unfaithful, disloyal and dishonest/ To serve Nigeria is not by force/ Not to defend her unity and uphold her honour and glory/ So help my God.” It seems that majority of Nigerians, including elected and public office holders; seem to abide by this corrupt and satanic version of the national pledge. Nigerians seem to be comfortable with following the letters and words of this satanic pledge. All their actions and inactions are contrary to the original and official version of the pledge. We seem to do everything to keep the words of this satanic version.

The Efik has a saying that a good soup is a product of the right condiments. Making Nigerians to be patriotic, loyal and honest is a two way game. The nation has a part to play and the citizens too. No one can serve Nigeria with all his or her strength if the country cannot protect and cater for the interest, welfare and safety of the citizens. The Bible says that he (that is a man or father) that cannot provide for his family is worse than an infidel (an unbeliever). So is a nation that cannot cater for its citizens. And such a nation cannot expect the citizens to be loyal and patriotic. How do you expect a Nigerian to be patriotic to a nation or a country that cannot guarantee his or her security and safety, a country that cannot provide potable water, affordable medical care, good schools, motorable roads? Why should one be patriotic and loyal to a country that has no welfare for the less privileged? How can i be committed to a country that cannot protect the weak or cater for their needs? Why should I be patriotic to a country that its leadership can wake up one day and cede part of the country: land, resources and people (et al) to another country without any qualms?

Recent media reports have it that more than 10,000 Nigerians have perished trying to flee to European countries. What is the problem with Nigeria and why are her citizens, mostly youths, are fleeing from the country? The federal government should look at the core reasons why these citizens are running away and what are they pursuing in foreign countries? Also there have been media reports of how Nigerians have been killed, harassed or hunted in other lands, yet our government is not doing anything to show that these Nigerians come from somewhere? Everyway Nigerians are being attacked, even by countries that we provided succour for during their trying times, yet the Nigerian authorities is not doing anything to assure citizens that it cares.

The recent handing over of the Bakassi Penisula to the Republic of Cameroun has really underscored how much Nigeria and its leadership cares for her citizens. The handing over may be a diplomatic achievement by Nigeria but what about the indigenous people of Bakassi who were not given the opportunity to choose whether to belong to Nigeria or Cameroun, through a plebiscite or a referendum. Is it possible to relocate or resettle a people or communities that have spent centuries in a particular settlement? Nigeria and her leadership are inconsiderate of the pains they have caused the indigenes of Bakassi.


We may have scored a diplomatic point by the handing over but what about the political, social, economic dislocations that the indigenes are suffering. Forget the political talks about the need to obey the International Court of Justice ruling on Bakassi. What does Nigeria, as a country, stand to benefit from the ceding or Bakassi when compare to what we stand to benefit from keeping the peninsula despite the ruling of the court. Why is the housing estate that was supposed to provide accommodation for the displaced people of Bakassi not completed before the handing over date? Why was there no constitutional amendment to reflect the new status of Bakassi, in view of the final handing over?

The Cameroun gendarmes’ penchant for maltreating Nigerians is well known to Nigerians from the eastern part of the country. Is there any agreement between the Nigerian government and the Camerounian authorities to protect Nigerians who decided to stay put in the Bakassi to carry out their lawful trade of fishing? Would Nigeria go to war if Cameroun kill her citizens or wrongfully harass them? Uruan (in Akwa Ibom) fishermen have a song that was popular in the 80s about the brutality of the Camerounian gendarmes. According to the song, gendarmes are so wicked that they are worse than witches and they have brought untold hardship on Uruan fishermen. That gendarme waylaid Uruan fishermen and robbed them of money and fishes. This notorious wickedness was carried out when the peninsula was under the active occupation of Nigeria. What would be the fate of these fishermen and other Nigerians who choose to dwell, pass through or do business now in Bakassi. How can we isolate the legal and law-abiding immigrant from undue harassment from Cameroun security forces?

The Nigerian government should wake up from its slumber or lukewarm attitude towards the needs and welfare of her citizens. There is need for our government to be more responsible and responsive to the welfare of Nigerians. It is only a change in the attitude of government that can create that sense of belonging and pride that culminate in patriotism in all Nigerians. Goodnight Bakassi!