PATRIOTISM AS A NIGERIAN

Patriotism is about what you can do for your country, not entitlement from its leaders.

Many Nigerians today confuse patriotism with tribalism, religion, or regionalism. We criticize endlessly, yet our allegiances often shift based on which tribe or region holds power. Even religious leaders are not immune to this hypocrisy. Our words profess love for Nigeria, but our actions too often reflect division. We champion "truth" only when it aligns with the interests of our tribe or region.  

You may enjoy the comforts of a second citizenship abroad, but it can never replace your God-given identity as a Nigerian. Consider the recent era when figures like Donald Trump emphasized that even a birth certificate doesn’t guarantee acceptance in America. He is merely one example; future leaders worldwide may enforce policies that push immigrants and their descendants back to their places of origin—especially as global populations grow, AI displaces jobs, and resources shrink.  

To secure our future, we must unite to rebuild Nigeria through collective effort and shared purpose. Tribalism breeds hatred and fuels disintegration. Another civil war would unleash one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with death tolls in the millions. We cannot afford this.  

Do not hate Nigeria—hate bad leadership, corruption, tribalism, and terrorism. Only then can we unite to dismantle these destructive forces.  

Our diversity is a strength, not a weakness. I’ve thrived by embracing traditions beyond my own—learning to cook dishes from other cultures, appreciating our shared humanity. Imagine a Nigeria where our youth channel their wealth and energy not into importing billion-naira luxury cars for social media clout, but into cultivating land, building hospitals, founding schools, and launching industries. **That** is patriotism.  

Patriotism is not measured in wealth, but in sacrifice—choices that may not benefit you personally but uplift the nation and its future.  

Together, with love and resolve, we can forge unity through action.

Until the moment when will shall dance in white Greater Grace.

Oyugbo Jonah Osagie