How can citizens still stand solely behind Nigeria despite the cracks here and there?
What can make Nigerians still have hopes in their country, despite the problems lying around? It is not free will in the name of being a good citizen but a tenacious and dedicated act of true patriotism.
Having a good knowledge of what Patriotism entails is pertinent before one can proceed to know how to make the Giant of Africa rise from her ashes to glory and stardom once again.
In this light, patriotism is simply the love of one’s country and the willingness to defend it.
If we can have a good number of patriotic citizens in Nigeria, Nigeria will certainly be a better place for all. Unfortunately, the country of today is experiencing a lot of problems. Most of these problems have completely brought the country to its knees.
It has indeed eaten deep into every sector of the economy and extensively affected not just the overall development of the country but the lives of her citizens, mostly the ones that find themselves in the average and low class. It is indeed so disheartening.
How do you expect Nigerian citizens going through challenges to be patriotic? It will indeed take a lot of courage, selflessness, commitment, dedication, love and hope for one’s country to have them be this patriotic.
Do we blame them? Is there a way or a valid and tangible reason to make citizens have trust and hope in their motherland once again?, Do we also then have to coerce citizens to be patriotic all in the name of fulfilling their obligations as true citizens?
We can’t blame any citizens in Nigeria for being unpatriotic. It will take a lot of effort to make the citizens of Nigeria trust her government once again. Although it is a very important obligation for citizens to be patriotic to their country, it should not be forced on the citizens. It is better that a citizen does that out of his or her free will.
Patriotism is not the role citizens can play to make their country better but it is the first step a citizen should take or would I rather say the first trait of a good citizen who wants her country to move forward despite the overwhelming problems exhibited.
We all know undoubtedly that North, East, West and South, go anywhere in the world, Home will always be the best. One’s motherland remains one’s motherland. Hence, we must do everything we can to make Nigeria great again.
How can this be possible? The first step to being a patriotic citizen is adequately understanding what patriotism is and recognising the fact that as a good citizen you have to be patriotic. Self-realisation is the first step to achieving this. After then will one a citizen know the reason behind his or her actions of being patriotic without having regrets whatsoever?
Also as citizens, we can play our part in being patriotic by voting during elections. As a democratic state, it is pertinent that we vote for our leaders. Abraham Lincoln once said Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. In this light, we can see that the progress of a democratic state strongly lies in the hand of not the leaders or government but the people, in other words, the citizens of the democratic state are the rock of the progress of a nation.
Much more, patronising our indigenous products than foreign products is an act of patriotism. In this way, the citizens will see the need to accept “our own” products, thereby seeing the value and worth of using what is ours. We have been so stuck with the love for foreign products that even a single match stick and cotton buds is rather very difficult for us as a country to boast of being able to produce.
Also, we should actively participate in the national celebrations in all honesty, not for pretence or to show people that you are a good citizen when you are not. As a patriotic citizen whatever you do must be with all honesty, transparency, faithfulness, commitment and dedication. As good and patriotic citizens we must be obedient to the law of the land, abide by the constitutions and contribute to anything and everything that will lead to the progress and overall development of the country.
Patriotic citizens should try as much to believe, speak and hold on to the positive views of their country despite the negative circumstances that the country may be currently experiencing. It takes a whole lot of courage, belief, trust and confidence to see positivity in negativity. This kind of positivity can make one go to the extreme to make lemonade out of a lemon and turn a circumstance into positivity.
In conclusion, if we can have patriotic citizens whose actions make other citizens realise the need to be patriotic, then this can help us build a better country for all. Sometimes it is not just about the leader or the government, you must be the change you want to see in the world, starting from Nigeria
Everyone has a part to play in making Nigeria rise from her ashes to glory and stardom, but then as a citizen, we can take the first step by being the change to cause the change and change not just Nigeria but the world at large. Nigeria will rise again if you and I can set the pace and make a difference while others follow by being patriotic. Hail that Giant of Africa!, Hail Nigeria!
