A Patriotic Doctor, but what is Nigerian Patriotism? by Dolapo Aina

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The trickiest aspect to lying is maintaining the lie. Telling an untruth is easy, but continuing and reinforcing a lie is far harder. The natural human tendency is to deploy another lie to bolster the initial mendacity-Ben MacIntyre; Operation Mincemeat Page 307

Dear Reader,

By the time you read this short piece; the national awards would have been bestowed on deserving Nigerians and some undeserving Nigerians. Though, the subject matter of this piece might resonate/echo like a voice from the past to read or see this in today’s paper or online; but it would be a reflection we all have had in our solitary moments or while soliloquising.

Several years ago (2008 or 2009); while discussing with Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin­-the civil rights activist (who was recognised with an award and handed to by Michelle Obama at the White House in 2014) in the art gallery of Nigeria’s art connoisseur; former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia and the man behind the TV series “Village Headmaster” Chief Olusegun Olusola (of blessed memory). I asked her if being a patriotic Nigerian was worth the trouble. If patriotism wasn’t just a sentimental tune sung to Nigerians by the unfailingly unpatriotic politicians who is would appear are only perturbed about securing their future.

This encounter joggled my memory in the wee hours on Wednesday, the 24th of September 2014 and I tried recounting the numerous heroes and heroines; who have served and laid down their lives for this nation and how the country has abandoned and neglected their heroics and sacrifices. Do you need a list? Let me wiggle and hammer your re-collective skulls-Samuel Okwaraji (talented footballer who slumped and died while on national assignment at the National Stadium in Surulere in 1989), Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria’s most prolific goal poacher), Olusoji Fasugba and not forgetting Dr Ameyoh Adadevoh (who single-handedly saved the crowded neighbourhood of Obalende, Lagos and Nigeria at large).

How have we treated the heroics of Okwaraji? What about Fasugba who at a time was the fastest man in the world in the 60metres? He was so fed up with the neglect of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria; that after many financial sacrifices; he moved to the United Kingdom and joined the British Royal Navy. This writer cannot forget what an elderly Nigerian told me when Fasugba was complaining about AFN’s neglect and paraphrasing, this individual went thus “Nigerian government don’t value heroes; he had better seek better opportunities outside the shores of this country for his talents.” I guess this person was right since Francis Obikwelu dumped Nigeria and represented Portugal, had endorsements and was once a member of a Portuguese Senate Committee. According to Mercy Nku (another Nigerian Sprinter who dumped Nigeria), she said Francis Obikwelu took the decision because of neglect by Nigerian sports officials when he was injured while representing Nigeria during the Sydney Olympics Games in 2000. He had to go to Canada to undergo an operation on his knee spending his own money. He became a Portuguese citizen in October 2001-(Francis Obikwelu’s Wikipedia profile).

And what about Dr Ameyoh Adadevoh, whosingle-handedly quarantined the first case of the Ebola virus in Nigeria.

Passing through the First Consultants Hospital in the early days of September 2014; I couldn’t but visualise the worst case scenario if Dr Adadevoh had not single-handedly stood her ground based on moral, ethical and professional principles. If she hadn’t, the crowded Obalende; bustling with a bee-hive of commercial activities would have been reminiscent of the modern Zombie movie flick titled World War Z starring Brad Pitt. In other words, Obalende would have been deserted. And what did the heroic doctor get? At least a national award right? Alas, officialdom reared her hydra-headed ugly head again; officialdom coated in half truths. Like Ben MacIntyre wrote in his book-Operation Mincemeat on Page 307- “The trickiest aspect to lying is maintaining the lie. Telling an untruth is easy, but continuing and reinforcing a lie is far harder. The natural human tendency is to deploy another lie to bolster the initial mendacity (deceit or fabrication).”

And it would appear that the citizens’ opinions, views and criticisms would induce a re-think and reversal of the government’s official stance. But a brick-walled stance is been portrayed. This brick-walled stance is a classic case of “a thick skin could mean complacency is just around the corner.”

At the 2013 Access Conference event; George W. Bush made a profound statement which encapsulates the unwritten message within this short piece. The former American President said “A leader should have people around him who would tell him reality not how wonderful he is. A leader is to surround himself with people who know what he doesn’t know. ” One wished that this were the case in this clime.

And as Dr Myles Munroe stated in his book-The Power of Character in Leadership (How Values, Morals, Ethics and Principles Affect Leaders) “across the globe, leaders are sensing an urgency to integrate their nations into these changes. Old styles of leadership have lost their effectiveness and must yield to the new equation of 21st Century leadership.”

Like I asked Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin that fateful day in the corridors of the art gallery of the late Chief Segun Olusola; and I still ponder if there is any reason for a law-abiding citizen to be patriotic to Nigeria? You can’t but ask this question when you have read, have seen how the labours of our heroes and heroines past seem to be in vain and if not in vain; are not appreciated by the authorities.

In the month of August, this writer met a unique Nigerian who went to the United States at the tender age of 14 and spent about 45years living in America. He only flew back 6 years ago and at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, he almost wiped. Why you might ask? He said that the way he left the airport 45 years ago was better than the way he met it. And speaking of patriotism; this Nigerian-American who built expensive homes for the richest of Americans in a popular state in America; informed this writer of a certain neighbour of his, whose job is to write the computer codes for NASA’s space shuttles’ flights. It is assumed that if this fellow isn’t around, things might not go according to laid-down plans-meaning this fellow is more than valuable. The shocker is this fellow is a Nigerian or rather has a Nigerian name. Coming back home anytime soon. Your guess is as good as mine.

So this writer asks, as Nigerians and Nigeria celebrate the 54th year of Independence; what is the purpose for being a patriotic Nigerian? What are the benefits of being a patriotic Nigerian? Is being a patriotic Nigerian beneficial to a law-abiding citizen and if there are benefits; what are they? And in the Nigerian context, what does patriotism mean? Isn’t it a song sung by Nigerian politicians to the citizenry? Clarifications are needed for those who might be disillusioned by Nigerian Patriotism. Truth be told with all candour; and with a crystal-clear mind; this pen is chagrined.

Dolapo Aina @DolapoAina, Lagos, Nigeria.

www.dolapoaina.com

Views Expressed are Solely Author’s.

339 thoughts on “A Patriotic Doctor, but what is Nigerian Patriotism? by Dolapo Aina”

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