Between Clinton’s comments, Mark’s reply and patriotism
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- Written by Suleiman Muhammad Odapu
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Obama’s visit to Ghana came to the front burner of discourse, especially in the media, and one would be forgiven to conclude that Ghana would be the next African super power going by the way the visit has garnered attention and drew different kinds of comments. Weeks after the visit, I phoned a Ghanaian friend to enquire after the post-Obama Ghana. Guess what? It is still the same Ghana.
Many Nigerians felt our country has lost a lot for not hosting the President of the United States. Then came what others may see as compensation, the visit of the US Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton. If Ghana got diamond for Obama’s visit, her visit to Nigeria should give us gold. However, Ghana never saw diamond and so we too saw nothing.
The comments by Mrs. Clinton and the reply by some Nigerians led by the President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark has again brought the question of patriotism to the fore. It has also generated aftermath of commentaries. Hillary made her point and it is not wrong if Sen. David Mark or Alh. Balarabe Musa or anyone else replies her.
Patriotism is not loyalty to leaders, ruling parties or public officers and I think the respected Balarabe Musa knows this well thus his response to Clinton. Mark’s comments is patriotism and not necessarily because he heads the red chambers.
Nigeria must not fall; it is only when we realize that our problems as well as solutions are at home and patriotism is the tonic for national development that we will rise above the problems that stand in the way of our greatness as a nation.
I was not there when Clinton made her remarks on Nigeria, neither was I at the airport when the President of the Senate gave his reply; me, like many, relied on what was reported. According to media reports, Clinton blamed our woes to leadership problems including our electoral laws, adding, “You (Nigerians) are the ones with the opportunity and responsibility” while Sen. Mark maintains that we are a sovereign state and be allowed to decide what form of government to practice. Our problems are not with our laws, Mark added. If you ask me, it is the same point. Why then the furore about the latter’s’ point?
It is a fact that all is not well with Nigeria, but tell me of where all is well and I will tell you of a dead living man. What is Mrs. Clinton’s deal? America’s stance reminds me of the saying that when the sympathizer mourns more than the bereaved, it surely raises an eyebrow. It is time we wake up and see reason in Mark’s reply and view it as patriotism, let us raise our eyebrow to America’s seeming “love” for us. After all, it takes two to tango in a corruption, if Nigerians are corrupt, countries like America are often times the accomplice. It is the case of the pot calling the kettle black.
What is wrong in reminding the Americans as Sen. Mark had done that we are a sovereign nation with the wherewithal of addressing our national problems? It is simply mind boggling that the Senator should be attacked for merely articulating this fact.
There are times that a people rise up to their challenges and unite against a common foe and forge ahead. This is the time. Equally, there are times we dismiss charlatans who use pen names castigating individuals and undermining our national sovereignty.
We cannot forget so soon the controversial Florida election result, which brought in former President George Bush to power. Did Americans shout to the outside world? We all know that we need to change for good and we know very well of the dictum that he who preaches justice must come with clean hands.
Of course there are some best practices from the US we could study and fine-tune, just as they too can study from us. Not all that is from abroad is gold. The Late comedian, Afolabi (Jagwa) once said “wetin you de go find for Sokoto, nayi de for your Shokoto): what you want to go and search in far away Sokoto is readily available in your shokoto (pocket)”. Like Sen. Mark told reporters at the airport, our problems and solutions are within.
No nation ever develops without the spirit of patriotism among its citizenry that builds nationalism. The core of our lagging behind is hinged on nationalism and patriotism.
Odapu is of the Office of the Special Adviser, Political and Governmental Matters to the President of the Senate.
Articles
Between Clinton’s comments, Mark’s reply and patriotism
Category: Comments Written by Suleiman Muhammad Odapu Hits: 701
Obama’s visit to Ghana came to the front burner of discourse, especially in the media, and one would be forgiven to conclude that Ghana would be the next African super power going by the way the visit has garnered attention and drew different kinds of comments. Weeks after the visit, I phoned a Ghanaian friend to enquire after the post-Obama Ghana. Guess what? It is still the same Ghana.
Many Nigerians felt our country has lost a lot for not hosting the President of the United States. Then came what others may see as compensation, the visit of the US Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton. If Ghana got diamond for Obama’s visit, her visit to Nigeria should give us gold. However, Ghana never saw diamond and so we too saw nothing.
The comments by Mrs. Clinton and the reply by some Nigerians led by the President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark has again brought the question of patriotism to the fore. It has also generated aftermath of commentaries. Hillary made her point and it is not wrong if Sen. David Mark or Alh. Balarabe Musa or anyone else replies her.
Patriotism is not loyalty to leaders, ruling parties or public officers and I think the respected Balarabe Musa knows this well thus his response to Clinton. Mark’s comments is patriotism and not necessarily because he heads the red chambers.
Nigeria must not fall; it is only when we realize that our problems as well as solutions are at home and patriotism is the tonic for national development that we will rise above the problems that stand in the way of our greatness as a nation.
I was not there when Clinton made her remarks on Nigeria, neither was I at the airport when the President of the Senate gave his reply; me, like many, relied on what was reported. According to media reports, Clinton blamed our woes to leadership problems including our electoral laws, adding, “You (Nigerians) are the ones with the opportunity and responsibility” while Sen. Mark maintains that we are a sovereign state and be allowed to decide what form of government to practice. Our problems are not with our laws, Mark added. If you ask me, it is the same point. Why then the furore about the latter’s’ point?
It is a fact that all is not well with Nigeria, but tell me of where all is well and I will tell you of a dead living man. What is Mrs. Clinton’s deal? America’s stance reminds me of the saying that when the sympathizer mourns more than the bereaved, it surely raises an eyebrow. It is time we wake up and see reason in Mark’s reply and view it as patriotism, let us raise our eyebrow to America’s seeming “love” for us. After all, it takes two to tango in a corruption, if Nigerians are corrupt, countries like America are often times the accomplice. It is the case of the pot calling the kettle black.
What is wrong in reminding the Americans as Sen. Mark had done that we are a sovereign nation with the wherewithal of addressing our national problems? It is simply mind boggling that the Senator should be attacked for merely articulating this fact.
There are times that a people rise up to their challenges and unite against a common foe and forge ahead. This is the time. Equally, there are times we dismiss charlatans who use pen names castigating individuals and undermining our national sovereignty.
We cannot forget so soon the controversial Florida election result, which brought in former President George Bush to power. Did Americans shout to the outside world? We all know that we need to change for good and we know very well of the dictum that he who preaches justice must come with clean hands.
Of course there are some best practices from the US we could study and fine-tune, just as they too can study from us. Not all that is from abroad is gold. The Late comedian, Afolabi (Jagwa) once said “wetin you de go find for Sokoto, nayi de for your Shokoto): what you want to go and search in far away Sokoto is readily available in your shokoto (pocket)”. Like Sen. Mark told reporters at the airport, our problems and solutions are within.
No nation ever develops without the spirit of patriotism among its citizenry that builds nationalism. The core of our lagging behind is hinged on nationalism and patriotism.
Odapu is of the Office of the Special Adviser, Political and Governmental Matters to the President of the Senate.