What Patriotism connotes and what it is not.

My little knowledge in Social Studies and Civic Education made me to understand that by patriotism, we mean “the feeling of love and loyalty that an individual has for his/her Country”

Patriotism is an essential quality of citizenship for national development. People who are patriotic are called “Patriots”

Here you can see clearly that patriotism has nothing to do with praise singing or blindly loyalty to any individual or group of persons. It relates to your love and loyalty to your Country not an individual or persons.

Patriotism is completely in disagreement to sycophancy, gullibility or blind loyal, as it is your ability to be loyal to the National Interest of your Country. Meaning patriotism will not make one gullible and a sycophant rather it will make you identify with the nation at all times.

What we do to human leaders no matter who they are include to pray and respect them. When I say human leader I mean fallible leaders.

Therefore, when i hear people saying you lack patriotism for being a critic of evil dispositions of leaders and poor/bad governance i am always taken aback and wonder if their own definition of “patriotism” differs from the one i gave above.

True patriotism is to the Nation and not to an individual or persons. It is your ability to stand, defend, promote, protect and project your Country no matter what it takes.

It should be noted that the advanced nations today became developed on account of the patriotism of their citizens. That is why i still like the phrase “America First” which United States President Donald John Trump have been using before, during and after his electioneering campaigns.

If Nigerians (leaders and the governed) are patriotic, we would have been competing favorably well with most advanced Nations. A Patriots will never steal from the Public Treasury and will be guided by the saying “what belongs to everybody belongs to nobody”. Utilization of public funds will have been done with integrity, transparency, prudence, accountability and probity. Patriotism will make us to adhere strictly to our Constitutional Provisions, respect the rule of law, respect court orders and treat all Nigerians equal irrespective of their tribal, ethnic, religious, ideological and political affiliations. With Patriotism we’ll be each other keepers (there will be love, peace, unity and progress in all ramifications) and will not want to cheat or defraud one another.

With Patriotism, there will be open-mindedness, talent fulfillment and healthy competition.

Patriotism will make us contribute our quota in whatever way that is good to National interest, unity, peace, progress, growth and development of Nigeria.

Patriotism will make us say no to chauvinism, bigotry and hate speeches rather it will make us concentrate on things that unite us and discard those that cause disunity, hatred and disaffection among us.

Sycophancy, gullibility, praise singing, chauvinism and lip service are things that affect true patriotism.

We can make Nigeria great again when we become true patriots and display true patriotism.

I have always said Nigeria has one of if not the best National Pledge globally which if majority of Nigerians can believe, abide by, act and follow religiously not mere reciting it will take us to enviable height.

As a Youth Activist, I believe with patriotism by Nigerians most especially the leaders, the youths will be mentored, tutored, trained and their capacities built to achieve their full potentials at appreciable levels and make patriotism their watch word.

Let us put national interest first as citizens and other parochial interests secondary to make Nigeria a better place and take its place of pride among comity of nations.

Together, we can do it. True patriotism is a national/collective project that requires all hands being on deck for its actualization.

Yours truly,

Cmr. Friday Bako

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Opinion: What Nigerians need to know about Patriotism – Friday Bako