Nigerians have been charged to embrace the spirit of patriotism at national and personal levels in order to bring about the expected development in the land. Making this submission recently was the registrar of the newly established Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta (FUMMSA), Dr. Gregory Olukayode Obayomi, who charged Nigerians to be patriotic if they truly wanted to see the country grow and develop.
Dr. Obayomi made this contribution recently at a seminar organised by the Consulate General of India in Nigeria, to mark the 156th post humous birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of modern India, in Lagos.
Speaking on Promoting Patriotism in Nigeria, The Gandhian Inspiration Dr. Obayomi an expert in International Relations charged Nigerians to embrace the Gandhian Spirit of Patriotism if they wanted to bring about lasting growth and development in Nigeria.
The educationist in his remarks extolled Mahatma Gandhi as the father of patriotism in the world. According to him, “Mahatma Gandhi was one of the best early moral leaders the world has ever known, he was the father of the nation of India and the great soul of India, the apostle of non-violence and a champion of peace, justice, and freedom as widely acknowledged all over the world.
“He was more than a political figure, he was a symbol of truth, peace and service who led Indian’s struggle for independence, and led his followers in the sense of patriotism.”
Dr. Obayomi in his presentation noted that patriotism should not be left with the leaders alone but also the followers who have more important roles to play in seeing patriotism work in any country.
He explained, “Gandhi showed us that national transformation thrives when leaders and followers are in agreement, work hand in hand, and forming a common vision,” noting that “where the followership responds faithfully, showing their patriotic responsibilities, national transformation becomes inevitable.
“It is a two-way thing, the leadership will show the way and do the right thing. The followers who are in the majority must also respond. The followers must try to do what is right at all times,” he advised.
Also emphasizing the impact of patriotism exhibited on the life of the followers in the process of nation building, Dr. Obayomi postulated that there would be national regeneration of growth and development, only if followers are also patriotic.
He was of the view that a nation should not only allow the leaders to lead in patriotism but should also involve the followers, noting that “all followers must be patriotic in their different areas of responsibilities, in our homes, offices, churches and even mosques. It is one thing to expect leaders to meet up with the needs of the masses, it is another thing for the followers to back it up with patriotism at their different corners.”
He submitted that only about 10% of the population belong to the ruling elites and asked “what are the remaining 90% majority doing? asking “what are we doing in our different positions of responsibilities?
“The manager at the banks, and the corporations, what are you doing? What level of patriotism do you show in carrying on with your duties and responsibilities? How do you reflect this in showing love to your neighbours and our fellow human beings?”
Dr. Obayomi who expressed the belief that Nigeria was full of potentials and talents, also noted that “however strong a leader may be, development is slowed down with reluctant followership. Gandhi succeeded because his followers believed in the virtues he preached, with honesty, discipline, and selfless service. Patriotism should become our daily life style, and that fuels growth and development. Patriotism is the oil that fuels our daily life towards growth and development,” he explained.
Also sharing his views on the Gandhian Inspiration and the Nigerian situation, the FUMMSA Registrar also appreciated the virtues of Mahtma Gandhi and the relationship he had with his followers.
He said, “Mahatma Gandhi lived what he taught and preached. His followers followed his examples. In his philosophy, he was committed to the truth and integrity, embraced honesty, and rejected injustice. He preached non-violence and peace. His followers accepted peaceful protest. This prevented their country from descending into chaos and acrimony.
“He lived simply and selflessly. He wore local clothes, supported local industries, he made personal sacrifices for national growth, his followers did the same. They supported local industries that created the foundation for national growth for collective progress.”
On how the Gandhian spirit can influence patriotism in Nigeria, Dr. Obayomi recommended that Nigerians needed to emulate the Gandhian spirit “to ensure growth, patriotism, development and progress for Nigeria. Patriotism in the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi should be the change we want to see in the world. You and me should be the change that we wish to see in the world, meaning that patriotism must start from all of us, patriotism should start from the individual, the ordinary person, from individuals before we think of the leaders.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. Patriotism should be the duty of the followers, the ordinary Nigerians. It should not be the duty of the leaders alone, but also the followers who are in the majority, they are to ensure that patriotism is built in the Nigerian character to enhance developments, contrary to what we have today.”
He therefore commended the spirit of patriotism in the lives of pre-independence and immediate post independence Nigeria which, according to him “is contrary to what obtains today in our national life. We always think of our personal preferences and premodial interests which we promote above national interests and values. Many people often exhibit lack of trusts in the Nigerian nation promoting nepotism above the Nigerian projects.”
Obayomi who stated that “an average Nigerian worker does not believe that Nigeria has any good for him or plans for his future unlike the patriotic zeal of our forebears”, added “Patriotic consciousness in the present Nigeria, is either dead or abandoned. The spirit of selfishness or greed and ethnocentric reality is engrossed in our psyche and that affects our national psychological atmosphere.”
On corruption and and patriotism, the erudite scholar condemned the prevalent spirit of greed and avarice, prevalent among Nigerians, saying Nigerians’ attitudes “have appropriated and taken away in an obnoxious manner and in an astronomical rate what would have been used for national good and developmental purposes.” He added that corruption and promotion of nepotism were hindrances to growth and development in Africa’s most populous country.
The Way Forward
On the way forward, Dr. Obayomi recommended that “An average Nigerian must live with honesty and integrity, promote peace, unity and integrity both in our national life and in our communities. We shouldn’t be agents of war, distractions and instability. We need to take responsibility for our actions in our different roles. Nigerians must imbibe the spirit of patriotism and selflessness at national and personal levels.”
He also suggested, “The spirit of simplicity, commitment to truth and non-violence should be our watch words and guiding principles. It is time Nigerians stopped paying lip services to our fatherland. We should continue to pursue endemic solution to our socio-cultural values. An average Nigerian should play their patriotic roles in their different communities and places of abode, promoting the good of all and sundry.
“The spirit of truth and honesty should be adopted in our places of works and businesses, and all areas of our life. There is the need to be patriotic in our different places of works. Domestic servants should serve well, the masters should also master well and be considerate with their staff. Artisan, carpenters, bricklayers, engineers, iron-benders, should be truthful and make life more meaningful to ordinary Nigerians, and it will show we are patriotic and see patriotism flowing in our blood.
“In education, students and teachers should imbibe the spirit of patriotism and discipline in the conduct of teaching and learning, thereby avoiding cheating, and sharp practices during examination. Love for the country should be paramount in the mind of our teachers and our students.
“Students must avoid cheating in exams, and eschew fraudulent and sharp practices, and abstain from the temptation of sexual harrassments. We should show our love for our country, there should be dedication to service by our teachers and there should be serious studies by our students, and students must exhibit serious commitments.
“The Churches and our religious leaders should be good role models to our youths and the larger society, spirituality should take precedence above display of wealth and exploitation of the poor in the society. Religious god fatherism should not be used for the exploitation of the poor and the down trodden in our society, who are seeking solutions to their personal problems and spiritual predicaments.
“In the economy and the open market both physical and online, honesty, truthfulness, should be the guiding principles in our service to ordinary Nigerians. The advantage should not be seen as an opportunity to exploit Nigerians. Our captains of industry should encourage promotion of local industries, selflessness and innovations in the running of the economy. They should work and support the government in stabilising the exchange rate for the economy.
“In governance, citizens should participate peacefully in shaping policies, they should support the electoral process and continue to monitor the process to its logical conclusion. Political education, mobilization and participation should be entrenched and promoted among the populace.
“In culture we can live together and share our common values, rather than emphasizing our ethnic and religious differences. The promotion of public good over and above personal interests should be entrenched in our daily lives as citizens.
“The spirit of the national anthem and the symbol of the national flag should be seen as our symbol of patriotism treated with national pride. Nigerians should follow development from the grassroots upwards to the national level in the spirit of development of the Nigerian state.”
Concluding, he submitted, “Patriotism is a shared journey devoted to the growth and development of our dear nation. Leaders and followers need to work together towards a better future. Gandhi’s spirit teaches us that national transformation is possible when followers back up leadership’s ideals in their daily lives. As we celebrate Gandhi’s legacies today, let us not be inspired by his leadership alone, but by the examples of his followers, and ordinary citizens who make extra ordinary contributions to the growth and development of India.
“True patriotism begins with you and me. It begins in our hearts, in our classrooms, our offices, in our places of worship, and our communities. If we embrace the path of patriotism it will uplift and promote our society, Nigeria will rise and be stronger as a giant and be prosperous.”
At the gathering was the Consul-General of India, His Excellency, Chandramouli K. Kern, who was the host and a co-speaker, Shivakumar Velappan, President, Indian Cultural Association, Moses E. Omorogbe, President, Indian Universities Alumni Association, Nigeria, Chief Sanjay Jain, Advisor to the IUUNAN, and Dr. Yinka Nkem Ugah, the Chairman of the Planning Committee.
The lecture was jointly organised by Indian Cultural Association, Indian Universities Alumni Association, Nigeria, and Mahatma Gandhi Gujarati Cultural Association.
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