IS THERE STILL PATRIOTISM IN NIGERIA?

The spirit of patriotism is dying down gradually in our nation because of the nonchalant attitude of our leaders. The can-do spirit and the enthusiasm that people, most especially footballers representing the nation in an international sports events exercised before now to ensure the nation celebrate victory is no longer there.

There are cases in Nigeria where the heroes that have performed a worthwhile task and have contributed immensely to the growth and development of the nation are neglected to die a mockery death by our leaders. One of those heroes to mention a few is Pa Taiwo Akinkumi who designed the national flag. No wonder Nigeria doesn’t celebrate flag day like the United States of America do on every 14^th day of June every year because the Federal Government do not see it worthy of celebration. I’m expecting a flag day like the one Great Britain celebrates every year, where they collect money from people on the streets for charity homes. During the course of the exercise, people are given   small stickers to wear in order to show that they are given money.

It is so disappointing that the Nigerian leaders have learnt nothing from all the positive things ongoing in the developed nations of the world, rather trick or deceit is the only thing they have learnt from the exposure to western education. In as such, I think the Boko Haram might be right to call it a SIN.

Another hero who was ignored by our government to die a miserable death is Mr. Rashidi Yekini, the football sport hero became popular in the 1994 Olympic game. He later suffered some emotional disorder and was neglected to die like an orphan. The recent one which attracted public reactions from Nigerians is the death of Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, the coach of the Super Eagle who died few months back. The statement made by the president that there was no money to bury him came as a surprise to Nigerians. This happened before the family demanded for the remains to shoulder the responsibility by themselves or could it be that there was no money to bury Keshi because he wasn’t a Hausa man?

It is so saddening that the people mentioned are those that we can remember vividly. What about the nation’s soldiers dying in unknown wars of political combat between the political lords that trade with the blood of their citizens in hunger for power and money? It is not amazing however that the troops are retreating from the battle fields because the weapons given to the unknown soldiers are more sophisticated than the ones given to the known soldiers. More saddening is the nation’s soldiers who died in the defence of their father land and are left forgotten in their shallow graves with their memory   dead with them. How then can others who are still alive exercise the spirit of patriotism? If na you, you go stay?

No wonder the whole world was surprised when U.S president, Barak Obama swapped five prisoners for the sake of only one American soldier. If you ask me, I would tell you that. That is why an American soldier can fight with the last drop of his blood to defend his country. So, Nigeria awake.