How patriotic are Nigerians?

BY OGUNTOYE OPEYEMI

Life couldn’t have been more difficult for a man who didn’t plan to be born or forced into occupation by the British and Japanese. Most people would have lost courage or desire to live anymore as education was not provided and neither was a chance to move freely within their own country. All jobs available were solely to assist the enemy to thrive in their own Country. In 1941, all dreams had by many Chinese at a time faded out because of the long battle in Asia. Lee Kuan Yew was among the brightest in his time and being ranked the best among all the students that wrote the examination, he secured admission into Cambridge. Even though his father was practically not in his life due to family challenges, he had a mission.

As a person, I have come to realise that oftentimes, we will not get to where we want at the time we want to. However, determination and perseverance will get us there one day. Lee Kuan Yew was in this condition for six years, struggling to find succor with everything around him until he got admitted into Cambridge, London. After his time there, he went back home. What was important was the education he got from the same people who have been oppressing his people. The skills were what he used to climb a ladder for his political expedition. Everything that happened in Singapore today is a result of a man who didn’t abandon his people, who didn’t allow his past to determine his failure, but used all within him to transform his nation.

A year ago, I was in a conversation with a colleague at the office concerning the desire of some Nigerians to relocate abroad. Some to acquire more knowledge while some for permanent residence. We deliberated on the issues that made most of them conclude on that journey ranging from insecurity, lack of quality education to harsh economy among other things. While I have no issue with the people who travel out of the Country, one critical thing I have observed which most of them didn’t bother to consider is- who do we think will fix this Country if we all leave permanently?

Sound Sultan of blessed memory sang a song many years ago, “Motherland” where he narrated how the sojourn overseas can never be like that of one’s Country. In every corner of the world, Jesus is still being referred to as “Jesus of Nazareth”. His time with his messages couldn’t take away his origin. It was the people of Hong Kong, China, Japan, Singapore that built all these Countries mentioned and not Americans or British.My question is- ‘why can’t we all stay back to fix the Country?’

One of the major problems of this Country is injustice. If we can address the issue, which currently brings a wide gap between the rich and the poor i.e. the possibility that every man will get justice irrespective of their position, everyone will have peace of mind. Obviously, that was where Lee Kuan Yee started from when he got back to his Country. Even, Mahatma Gandhi, after nearly 20years of leaving India, returned home from his sojourn in London and South Africa.

One would think the exposure some Nigerians had by traveling abroad would have a positive impact on them in a way as to enable them contribute and change the people’s perspective, but alas, it is as if they went over there to practice what they see but doesn’t change who they are. Few among many are Diesani Madueke and Femi Fani Kayode who went to Ivy League Universities, studied like Lee Kuan yew, Mahatma Gandhi but unfortunately, came back, and played the same politics as others. The experience and exposure they had over there had little influence on them and thereby, no positive impact on the nation. Most times, you see Nigerians who have traveled out of the country, and should ordinarily be role models to others who are here (who only watched the experiences of a country like the US on TV or Netflix) also flout traffic rules, litter the street, and engage in perpetual corruption. How well do we then say the desire for leaving the country is to transform the country?

One of the focuses which we always try to neglect is the value system of the country. We once trusted each other with some basic things – properties, and others but today, that has all gone. Why can’t we all sit at a round table to retrace our steps, look into those basic values and bring them back?

This is not to neglect the fact that our leaders also have a role to play in remolding the people and bringing back those values. A practical example is the IPOB decision to stay home every Monday. Even a Non- Nigerian knows that one thing peculiar about the Igbos is business acumen. So, when someone conceived an idea to compel such a tribe to sit at home on a business day, it should be known that such is not in the interest of the people but a self-serving ambition. A good leader is needed to drive the people on the right path.

Our Country is among the few in the world that subsidise nearly everything for its citizens ( education, electricity, fuel, healthcare, etc), which invariably affects our development and no thanks to the lack of political will by the leaders, we are still struggling to develop most of the sectors. One can also not deny the fact that the desire to make the citizens comfortable in conjunction with the political re-election of the public officeholders has also played a role in all these issues.

Of a truth, most citizens of other Countries of the world have to incur a huge debt, for instance on health care and education when accessing any of those aforementioned. It is quite cheap for anyone to acquire a good education in Nigeria. On the average, a Federal University will charge you around Two-Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira for a four-year course (tuition and accommodation) which will not fund a year’s accommodation in any of these Countries we are running to. The average tuition for a public University in the United State of America is about Forty-Eight Thousand Dollars for a four year course (N21Million). In essence, unlike most Americans who proceed on University studies on huge student loans, quality education can be acquired in Nigeria without breaking a bank. Yet, this gesture is not seen as an opportunity by Nigerians.

All the Country requires is for the people to give back so that we can see the desired change but a lot of Nigerians believe that the Country must continue to give to them alone. Most SMEs are not paying taxes in Nigeria. This initiative to help them grow and in return enhance economic conditions has however been deployed by the average Nigerian as an opportunity to manipulate prices that affect the general populace. If we have the interest of this Country at heart, we can be assured that it will bring good fortune to us as a nation.

As at September this year, there has been series of mass shootings across the United State of America, with over Four Hundred deaths and One Thousand Six Hundred injured but never will you see an America curse its nation. Never will you see an American prophesy evil against the country or its leaders. But for Nigerians, a slight change in the price of goods in the market would result in curses on the leaders and the country itself which actually makes it difficult to believe that we are a religious nation and that most of us go to church on Sundays or mosque on Fridays to listen to the word of God. We have all failed to adhere to the biblical instruction which is “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live a Peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” 1 Timothy 2: 1-2.

We have to come to a junction where we all agree that, without a collective change in our behavior and action, the Country which we all desire will never come to materialise. We are a product of the society we have, and as long as it becomes difficult for us to change, this Country will find it hard to progress.

Oguntoye Opeyemi can be reached via Twitter :@Equityoyo