Dr. Charles Okhai
Something of great importance is missing in our society. Something very significant and high national value is obviously and remarkably missing in our nation. They are like seasonings without which no meal can taste good. In the same way, without Patriots no nation can attain her full developmental potentials. Nigeria is unarguably far backwards socially, economically, and politically. The missing link is the dearth of Patriots in our society.
The Lack of Patriots underscores our underdevelopment and stagnation as a nation.
Sometimes in the past , we had some vibrant Patriots who fought fearlessly and doggeddly for the well being of Nigeria. They demonstrated the true spirit of a patriot. A patriot is the one who loves and zealously supports and defends his country. He engages the power that be with ideas and boldly pursue their actualization for the purpose of national development even when such move is detrimental to his life and family. He is passionately committed to the developmental projects of his country. With his passion for nation building, he puts bear all he has, his intellectual capacity, his will power, his time, and even his life to fight for his nation. A true patriot does his job beyond his interest, he is disinterested in political party, he has only one party that captures his attention, and that one party is simply his country. He confronts bad leadership with ideas not for his personal benefits but for the overall good of the society.
In this bracket of people, a few names readily comes to mind. People like Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Tunji Braitewaith, Chief Gani Fawehimi, Yinka Odumakin, Tolulope Arotile , the young Nigeria’s first ever female combat helicopter pilot who lost her life at a very tender age fighting Boko Haram. Dr Ameyo Adadevoh who also lost her life trying to prevent the deadly Ebola Virus from breaking into the Nigerian society. We can never forget the delectable Dele Giwa, whose journalistic excellence and entire life were wholelistically dedicated to the well being of Nigeria.
But today, we can hardly find one patriot, and as such, sadly enough, we are still struggling to get even the least thing right as a nation. The labor of the heroes past could not do much for lack of continuity. No one really cares for the country anymore, everybody is on his own, fighting for his stomach. As long as you can grab or share of the national cake, wether by hook or crook, all is well. Nobody seems to care for the nation, except to fend for himself and family. And I ask, where are the Patriots?
We seem to have none today, if at all there are some, the number is so low that they could be counted on the fingers of one hand. Worst of it all, no more fire in them. The dearth of the Patriots you might say, it is tragic and dishearthening. All we have now, are merchants and self
seekers, we have arm chair Journalists who only specialise in praise singing politicians just for their selfish interest.
Yes, politicians who are mere jokers, politicians who are riding on their over blotted media self ego, politicians who we all know do not have the capacity to lead this country, yet, some Journalists are presenting them as though, they are the best around our political landscape.
Two students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University were recently reported dead. They died apparently from carbon monoxide poisoning from generator fumes. They could still be alive if power had been generated by the government of the day, better still, if the school authority had done the needful by generating power. The truth is that Nigeria is an heterogeneous country where things go higgledy- piggledy, and everyone seems to be at home with it. Unfortunately, it is the poor, the less privileged in the society, who live at the knife edge of existence that suffer bad leadership. No one is calling a spade a spade. But the question remains, where are the Patriots?
Dr Charles Okhai
President,
Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ).
