If Nigeria’s soul becomes totally poisoned, part of the autopsy must read colonialism.
Nigeria bleeds partly because the amalgamation of 1914 which happened to Nigerians like nomenclatural surprise ignored certain substantial socio-cultural and historical facts among nations that have come to be known as Nigeria. From all intents and purposes, Lord Fredrick Lugard wanted to build a company and not a nation. He left no one in doubt thathis interest in the amalgamation was purely administrative convenience and tax purposes. This substantive error explains why Nigerians hitherto fail to appreciate Nigeria as their country, worth dying for.
This perception of Nigeria as a colonial symbol has truly undermined patriotism of the citizens.Nigerians hitherto refuse to digest this historical accident, to believe in Nigeria project. The evidence is in the greed and irresponsibility of the leaders plus collective failure of the citizens to make hard choices. The best of patriotism ever seen in Nigeria remains the pre-independence struggle of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.
The nationalism of the trio is a model because their patriotic regionalism is the last dose of patriotism ever seen in Nigeria.
Yet, these models were not saints; they were regionally-minded people who had abandoned nationalism as soon as independence was won. Theirs was regionalism or at best confederation: loose federation with greater regional autonomy and unattractive center as power base. The trio actually loved their nation but they loved their regions most.
Incidentally, the civilians that came after them neither loved their nation, regions nor states but were committed to their private pockets.
The result was overwhelming corruption, military maneuverings, and the historical mess of bloody civil war. The aftermath was not without lessons.Under military, power was restored to the centre for easy control. But the insincerity of military boys led the country to an overwhelming corruption and soaredmore tribalism.
This drama finally knocked patriotism off the ring. Since then, it has been one consequence taking the appearanceof another.
As Nigerians went in defense of instincts we left much to be desired.
Failed leadership!
Conquered followership!
Abandoned nation!
As patriotism became an extinct virtue, the search to rescue Nigeria’ssoul began. It was not surprising that the country would in 1978 abandon its former national anthem,“Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, to adopt ‘Arise O Compatriots”.
The new anthem takes its name from the opening line of lyrics which are a combination of words and phrases taken from five of the best entries in a national contest with words put to music by the Nigeria Police Band under the directorship of Benedict E. Odiase.
Stanza 1:
Arise, O compatriots,
Nigeria's call obey
To serve our Fatherland
With love and strength and faith.
The labor of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain,
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.
Stanza 2:
O God of creation
Direct our noble cause
Guide our leaders right
Help our youth the truth to knowIn love and honesty to grow
And living just and true
Great lofty heights attain
To build a nation where peace
And justice shall reign.
No doubt, the tune of the first stanzais irresistibly apologetic. It is a lamentation of a country abandonedby her sons and daughters. It is a wake-up call on all who share Nigeria dream to rise as comrades who are proud of their citizenship. It elevates Nigeria’s interest above personal egos and irrevocably seals individual actualization on the destiny of the country. It calls on patriots to listen to Nigeria’s call andrise in service to their fatherland, loyalty and solidarity to the sovereignty of our nationhood and above all to believe in Nigeria’s project.Since Nigeria is a nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal, the second line of the first stanza pays tribute to men who made it possible, heroes who loanedtheir sweat to give us sense of existence and freedom. It appeals tocitizens not to allow the labour of these forebears to go in vain.
Implicitly, it presents their struggle as example which must not only be meditated upon but imitated and improved on since they never look forward to posterity those who neverlook backward to the ancestors.
It challenges patriots to the service of power and compassion, might and morality, strength and sight, and political will and sincerity because a secured, just and united nation can only be achieved by collective patriotism of citizens in purpose andresolve.
The second stanza elevates God as the creator of the country. Invariably,by crediting the creation of Nigeria to God and not to Lugard, it dismisses the pessimism of those who think Nigeria is a historical mistake of the white man.
It proceeds with an appeal to God to steer the destiny of the country He has created by guiding our leaders to right judgment and leading the youth to awareness of the truth behind Nigeria’s creation.
The prayer reminds us that we cannot build the nation of our desire without love and honesty. In living true to these the nation will attain lofty heights of building a nation where peace and justice will prevail.
Yes, ‘Arise O Compatriots’ is the greatest form of anthem which Nigeria ought to adopt but the weakness is that we have never lived out the anthem we sing. We have merely recited the anthem for over 30 years but the attitude that prompted its composition and adoption has not just stagnated, it has degenerated.
The country has moved from regional nationalism nicknamed parliamentary system, militarism, ill-digested presidential system, to ‘ego-cracy’-government of, by, and for the self. The greatest loser in this journey is patriotism. When leadership fails, citizens find themselves outside the economic equation of their country. What follows is apathy towards the country as individual seek self rewards.
Public anger inflames when leadership rascality prevails. Patriotism is not forced on the people. Patriotism is earned when a country puts the interest of every citizen at heart. A government which discriminates in its treatment of citizens cannot be a darling of its entire people.
True government extends opportunity to every willing citizen not out of charity but as the surest route to national destiny. Nigeria oozes out fatigue because leadership failure has raped it of stamina.
What remains is conquered followership, mass discontent fuelled by elite greed and conspiracy; patriotism sacrificed on the altar of individual instincts; national love conquered by hunger, poverty, corruption; and division festered by rampaging politics of divide-and-rule.
Recital of national anthem is not enough; what we profess in it ought to be our way of life. Restoring vital trust between Nigeria and Nigerians calls for a radical revolution of values, shifting rapidly from a ‘self-oriented’ to ‘other-oriented’. In fidelity to what Nigerians profess in the anthem, those who pilot the affairs of the country should learn from the past heroes to exercise power prudently, be responsible, reform bad habit and conduct business in the light of the day.
While it is inevitable that citizens strive generally to be called the Good Samaritan on country’s roadside, government must realize that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that Nigerians will not be constantly beaten and robbedas they make their journey on country’s highway. True revolution comes when that edifice which produces unpatriotic citizens are restructured. No country should expect patriotism where the youths are idle, angry, and unfulfilled.
The national anthem also challenges citizens to put national loyalty above all else. Nigeria is a ‘we-project.’ Citizens have a civic responsibility not to the government in essence, but to the Nation. Our primary allegiance is to the Nation. Itis understandable that Nigeria is notperfect neither is any system of governance perfect. But we are faced with the challenge that our tomorrow is today. That tomorrow comes when we move from narrow-mindedness to building a peaceful and just nation hitherto denied by prevalence of instincts. Our loyalty must be more ecumenical. National interest must prevail in everything we think, speak and do. Patriotism has been the foundation of great countries. When citizens become more patriotic, government gains resilience to extend opportunities to every willing heart. We need to rethink our apathy, our pessimism and return to patriotism.Value is what a person prizes even in public when appropriate, chooses freely out of alternatives after considering the consequences of these alternatives and acts rather than just think about them. I believe Nigeria will never be a perfect society.
I believe Nigeria will never be a complete disaster. Nigeria can be better when Nigeria is restored to Nigerians, when we move from talk to action. Standing still to sing the national anthem has kept Nigeria at a standstill; we must walk the anthem.