Since the new normal in this country is to answer a question with a question, I suspect that an alarming majority of -if not all- Nigerians will retort with, ‘is Nigeria worth dying for’? Despite my excessive nationalism, I have never been able to clearly and confidently field the question of whether she was worthy of the supreme price. With monumental ingratitude being the national salutation for patriotic sacrifice and excellence, would I ‘as I am now’ put myself on the line for this country? If you think that blood is thicker than patriotism, let’s use money. Would you give your entire wealth up if that was all Nigeria needed to survive?
Embedded in this vexed question are other interrogative derivatives: what good has Nigeria done for the memory or families of her martyrs? Beyond the annual ritual of crocodile emotions, can we say that the Unknown Soldier and other heroes like Tafawa Balewa, Sam Okwaraji, MKO Abiola among others died in vain? If speaking about the dead is too distant, what about our heroes past who are still alive? Can we honestly say that our country has not been too uncharitable to iconic citizens (retirees, medical personnel, teachers, etc) who have nothing to show for their sacrifices? Going forward, would this horrible national mannerism stop anyone from intervening for the country?
I apologise for asking too many questions. It is not my style. I love to proffer answers; but when like now there is none to give, one attacks defensively. Oh, my Nigeria; the simple but impossible nut to crack. Oh, my Nigeria; the rocket-science puzzle. Oh, my Nigeria; that ties herself in knots!
Thankfully, all of the foregoing was a deviation. The worthiness of Nigeria is not our concern. Our focus is on the one office no one fights for: that of the Citizen. Have those of us, currently on this popular side of the leadership-followership divide, discharged the functions of the all-important office excellently? Remember, this is a stand-alone poser. It does not depend on what the country has done. After all, as they say in Akwa Ibom, ‘a male dog’ (in spite of its near-uselessness) is ‘owned-and-maintained by a human being’. Or put differently, sacrifice must not be a reward!
Now, when I couldn’t reach the Super Falcons aka Africa Permanent Conquerors (no acronyms please), who have consistently made us proud but because this is Nigeria, last Wednesday embarked on a demonstration over their well-deserved entitlements, I turned to my Facebook friends. Their responses:
Udeme Ebu: The Boss, I love my country but I can’t die for her. If those who live(d) for Nigeria are not rewarded, why should I think my death would make any difference?
Princess Hilda Lemmy: No, it’s not worth it.
Dr. Emmanuel Nwusulor: I will live for Nigeria.
Anietie Udoh: No, Nigeria is not worth dying for. My blood won’t even be enough to wash away her sins. Her best patriots are remembered on Naira notes; that’s all. Citizens can’t even tell offhand whose face is on which note. Soldiers who died fighting for her are only celebrated once a year (15th January). Nigeria is ungrateful.
Ehimare Dominic: I can’t die for Nigeria, but I can for my adopted country, the USA, where human dignity is held in high esteem and the ethos of decency, leadership, accountability and truth is so conspicuous even the blind can see. The chairman of my local government in Nigeria does not have my data or know whether I am alive or dead.  But, when entering the States, only my name tells immigration everything about me; everything not on my documents. In Nigeria, you are on your own. Nobody cares about you!
Abasiama Etukakpan: I cannot die for Nigeria, because Nigeria cannot die for me.
Wealth-Umo Iduk: Yes! I can die for Nigeria, but I can’t die for our ‘leaders’. Poor leaders give this rich country a bad image.
Mohammed Ali Achimugu: I can die for my fatherland because my Father in Heaven expects me to.
Emmanuel Equere: No, my death will change nothing.
Idy James: The Boss, let’s find a way to kill Nigeria. Check it: how many have died for Nigeria yet she remains sick. Why can’t she die for us?
Chukwu Agwu: Thousands of Chinese soldiers died in the great march 80 years ago. To this day, their names are neatly marked on their tombstones. Our nation’s war dead are ‘Unknown Soldiers’. Next, Samuel Okwaraji (1989); how has he been honoured? Let the dead rest. Super Falcons, perennial African women champions, what is their fate? If they are this humiliated in victory, what would have happened if they had suffered fatal fate in national colours? I can’t die for a country that destroys patriots and rewards rebels.
Way to go? In service, serve well, for lives are at stake. When it’s payday, take everything, for your life is at stake. When martyrdom calls, flee; because your dependants are at stake.
Usoro Peters: Oh Nigeria! How pathetic. I wish I knew how to respond to this. I dieth not for the ‹noun› called Nigeria.
Samuel Monday: My blood cannot save Nigeria. It can only add more problems since we are not authorised by God to kill ourselves. Jesus had already done the needful. What remains is for me to fast and pray for this country. I can only do that, alive.

 Is the kitchen cabinet bane of our political office?
In politics Nigeriana, the people most hated are those closest to Number One. They get blamed for everything. It is as in our religiosity as well, where we blame the devil for every misstep or natural misfortune. You must have heard, ‘the president is a wonderful man. It’s just the people around him who are the problem’ or ‘the governor is a good person. Only that he’s surrounded by very bad aides’.
This conclusive generalisation is at once hasty, fallacious, and escapist because inner caucus members are chosen by Number One. Meaning: anyone around a Nigerian leader is mostly exactly like him/her. Or did we appoint such a one for him/her? And, if a close aide is that horribly-different from the boss, why not fire?
Let’s give those around the leader a break. We may never know whether the little brightness the leader exudes is even a function of the hard work of these ones!

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Uyo tragedy: Pyrrhic blessing in disguise?
First –of course- my condolences to the Akwa Ibom State government, people, Reigners Bible Church, CAN, PFN and families affected by the church building collapse of two Saturdays ago.
However, I think we should stop the tears and blame game now to focus on how to forestall a recurrence. Remember the collapse of the Synagogue in Lagos? We moved on too quickly. The Uyo incident must not receive our trademark nine days’ wonder treatment.
Governments across all strata must sit together today with professional bodies concerned to ensure that every building has commensurate structural integrity. Pre-empting many of these accidents waiting to happen, is the only best way to assuage the recent monumental loss!