Patriotism and National Development

25 Pages·2017·10.01 MB·English

About the Book
T
The spirit of xenophobia is rife in Nigeria now. Several ethnic
nationalities are agitating for self-determination because of the
P
growing sense of insecurity in the country... What is certainly A
T
disquieting though is that some people are capitalising on our R
I
O
differences to tear us apart for evidently selfish interest... T
I
S
This timely book is an exposition and a challenge to every Nigerian
M

to rise up to his/her responsibility to save this Nation...NOW!! A
N
D
About the Author

C N
Cosmas Ilechukwu is the General Overseer of Charismatic Renewal A
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Ministries Inc., the Chairman, African Centre for Christian Leadership,
I
O
and the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Imo State and N
A
the Assistant National Secretary of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria
L AND

(PFN). He is the President of the International Ministers Fellowship S
E
NATIONAL
(IMF). Ilechukwu, a well published author and accomplished teacher of C
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the Holy Scriptures, serves on the Board of Reference of Oral Roberts
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University (Tulsa, USA). He is a member of IT SECURITY
Y
Governing Council of West African Theological
Seminary, Lagos. Dr. Ilechukwu holds a
B.Sc. (Micro Biology) from University of Ife
(now Obafemi Awolowo University), a Post
Graduate Diploma in Public Administration
from Imo State University, a Doctorate from D
r
Bakke Graduate University, Seattle .
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Washington, USA. o
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He is an alumnus of Haggai m
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Institute. s

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He is married to Adeola l
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and they have four
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children.
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ISBN 978-978-914-737-3
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Dr. Cosmas Ilechukwu
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CREATIONS 2 242t2h9m27a28n2 2 K9r2e72a8t2i o2 n 2z [phone]-72323267521-33290 THE CHANGE WE NEED SERIES - VOL. 3
AND
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SECURITY
This book is a
Gift
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To
For
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333
CONTENTS
Patriotism And National Security
Copyright © 2013 Cosmas Ilechukwu
CONTENTS
All rights reserved. No portion of this book
may be reproduced in any form,
except for brief quotations, without the written
permission of the publishers.
All scripture quotations are from The King James Version
of the Bible, except otherwise stated 5
CONTENTS
ISBN
777
978-978-914-737-3 INTRODUCTION
111111
WHAT IS PATRIOTISM?
Published by
FourthMM aann
C R E AT I O N S
WHAT IS NATIONAL SECURITY? 111777
[phone]
www.victorolukoju.org
[email protected]
PATRIOTISM: THE SPUR FOR 333777
NATIONAL SECURITY
444111
CONCLUSION
Graphic Concept + Design: Victor Olukoju
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PATRIOTISM AND NATIONAL SECURITY
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
T
The spirit of xenophobia is rife in Nigeria now.
Several ethnic nationalities are agitating for self-
determination because of the growing sense of
insecurity in the country. Many of these tribal segments of
the Nigerian society are complaining of being marginalised
and sidelined from the centre and consequently not getting
their fair share of the nation's resources. Given the inherent
heterogeneity of our political and cultural setting as a
conglomerate of nations, 240 at least, such expressions of
dis-satisfaction and/or disaffection may not be altogether
strange. What is certainly disquieting though is that some
people are capitalising on our differences to tear us apart for
evidently selfish interest. Hence, our country is today
strewn with ethnic/religious militias brandishing all kinds
of sophisticated weapons that one sees only at wartime.
This emergence of ethnic/religious militias has created a
complex dimension in our already darkened atmosphere of
insecurity and suspicion that has been our unfortunate
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PATRIOTISM AND NATIONAL SECURITY INTRODUCTION
experience as a country in recent times. In addition to the how the mighty has fallen” (2 Samuel 1:19 NKJV). Nigeria,
aforementioned security challenges, are the perennial the beauty of Africa, is prostrate with the onslaught of
problems posed by armed robbers, kidnappers, and siren- debilitating insecurity, and ethnic cum religious tang
wielding political actors who seem upset at the audacity of overtly and covertly orchestrated by some political jingoes,
the ordinary Nigerian to be on the streets of their fatherland who desire to capture the apparatus of political/economic
at the same time with them. Then comes what Professor powers as a leeway to usurping our commonwealth for
Wole Soyinka, in a recent interview posted on selfish purposes.
saharareporters.com, (October 18, 2012), described as The attitude of the Nigerian elites of today toward the nation
"Fundamentalist tyranny" - an emerging form of religious is typical of the couple who owned the goose that laid the
expression that evinces complete contempt for human lives golden egg, one of the most celebrated of Aesop fables. The
and modern civilization. The net effect of all of the chaos couple had a special goose that laid one golden egg for them
we have been wallowing in is the erosion of our collective every morning by which they became very rich. One day
sense of pride as a people and a diminishing sense of they imagined that they could become richer more quickly if
responsibility we feel towards the wellbeing of Nigeria as they could just harvest all the golden eggs that were inside
one nation “bound in freedom, peace and unity.” the goose all at once and would not have to wait for the
goose to lay just one egg a day. With their minds numbed
With little or no sense of pride for the merits of our country
and their eyes beclouded by their delusive fantasy, they
and with a vanishing sense of responsibility towards its
killed the goose only to discover, when they cut it open, that
corporate existence and well-being, we have sacrificed
theirs was not different from any other goose. She had no
patriotism and set the stage for the emergence of self-
golden eggs in the inside! Motivated by greed and avarice,
centred ethnic chauvinists who have magnified our
the couple wanted to have more but ended up losing all. If
differences and fanned the embers of disunity, leaving our
and when we finally succeed in killing Nigeria, we will end
dear country in tatters; killing the great dream of our
up as foolish as the couple who owned the goose that laid the
founding fathers – to create a country that would be the
golden egg.
pride of the black race among the comity of nations. The
lamentation of David at the demise of King Saul comes to What we need today as Nigerians is to replace this growing
mind: “the beauty of Israel is slain, upon your high places: ethnic obsession and its concomitant divisiveness with
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PATRIOTISM AND NATIONAL SECURITY
patriotism as the ethos of a stable polity. It would take a WHAT IS PATRIOTISM?
nation of patriots, who would place the collective interest of
the country over self and cheap ethnic considerations, to
stand together against every person, thing, or condition that
militate against our national security.
P
Patriotism is love for one's country that enables the
citizen to feel a sense of pride on the country's
merits and achievements, as well as shame for her
failures and shortcomings. It is the personal/collective sense
of responsibility one feels for the well-being of one's
country.
The word patriotism comes from a Greek word
meaning fatherland. For most of history, the love of
fatherland or homeland was an attachment to the
physical features of the land. But that notion
changed in the eighteenth century, when the ideals
of democracy, socialism, and communism strongly
emerged into political thought. Patriotism was still a
love of one's country that included connections to
the land and people, but then also included its
customs and traditions, pride in its history, and
devotion to its welfare.1

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PATRIOTISM AND NATIONAL SECURITY WHAT IS PATRIOTISM?
Patriotism means love for, faith in, and loyalty to one's therefore means that a true patriot must recognize when the
country, which often involves the citizens' display of their nation is wrong and fight to correct the wrong with the same
devotions to the fundamental values and principles upon zeal and commitment with which he supports the right. True
which the defining character of their nation rests. For such a patriots speak out when convinced that their country is
nation like America, such fundamental values would following an unwise or unjust action. This supports Mark
include freedom, democracy and the rule of law. Fifty-two Twain's view, "Patriotism is supporting your country all the
years after independence, our country is yet to define the time, and your government when it deserves it."3 Good
positive values that can rally all Nigerians irrespective of governance and the exemplary lifestyle of the leaders often
class, religion, and ethnicity. This leaves a nagging gap in help to inspire and encourage patriotic instincts in the
our efforts to achieve a patriotic consensus as a nation. Our populace. Isaac Tejevbo observed: "Patriotism is an
anthem is a national call to patriotism – “Arise, o automatic response to a situation where a nation has a
compatriots, Nigeria's call obey, to serve our fatherland, leadership that is truly concerned about the welfare and
with love and strength and faith.” A patriot is someone who well-being of their people, both at home and abroad!"4 In
is committed to the well-being of his or her country; who other words, people tend to be more patriotic to the extent
loves, supports, defends, and serves his or her country with a they feel they are cared for by their country.
sense of pride and honour. Our national pledge also
summons us to patriotic commitment: “I pledge to Nigeria The New Testament demands patriotism in Romans 13:1-7
my country, to be faithful, loyal and honest, to serve Nigeria
with all my strength, to defend her unity, and uphold her Be a good citizen. All governments are under God.
honour and glory, so help me God.” Insofar as there is peace and order, it's God's order.
So live responsibly as a citizen. If you're
Patriotism does not mean blind support for the government irresponsible to the state, then you're irresponsible
or to every policy of government in power. One key duty of with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly
the patriot is to save the nation from her leaders. According constituted authorities are only a threat if you're
to Theodore Roosevelt, a former President of the USA, trying to get by with something. Decent citizens
"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean should have nothing to fear. Do you want to be on
to stand by the President or any other public official." .2 It good terms with the government? Be a responsible
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PATRIOTISM AND NATIONAL SECURITY WHAT IS PATRIOTISM?
citizen and you'll get on just fine, the government expression of patriotism must have influenced Oscar
working to your advantage. But if you're breaking Wilde's description of patriotism as the "virtue of the
the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren't vicious."6 However, to be patriotic does not mean to support
there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also the government in power. "Dissent," in the words of
has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to Howard Zinn, can sometimes be "the highest form of
do it. That's why you must live responsibly—not patriotism."7 The patriot must therefore operate from a
just to avoid punishment but also because it's the principled base, rather than being a conformist who is
right way to live. That's also why you pay taxes—so comfortable on any ideological platform. He must be
that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfil somebody who will take a principled stand when he is
your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay convinced that his country is pursuing a cause that is
your bills, respect your leaders. (The Message). morally and practically wrong.
It is this love for one's country and commitment to her
overall well-being that motivate citizens to pay tax, earn
their salaries through hard work and hold one another
accountable on how to use the nation's resources.
It must, however, be observed that scholars are still divided
on the value of patriotism, especially the extreme
expression of it. Samuel Johnson, an old English critic and
poet, describes it as "the last refuge of the scoundrels."5
Scoundrels are unprincipled and dishonourable people who
play the politics of convenience with no ideological
conviction and ethical grounding. They cannot stand the
thought of staying out of the corridors of power for any
season; therefore, they run with any government in power,
even those that have objectionable antecedents. Such
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PATRIOTISM AND NATIONAL SECURITY
WHAT IS NATIONAL SECURITY?
S
Security motif of international organisations such as
the United Nations is beyond question. It is
therefore no wonder that the most powerful organ of
the United Nations is its Security Council. International
security largely depends on the national security of different
nations. Most national governments therefore, understand
that their most important function is to maintain law and
order by ensuring the security of their people and values.
The concept of security originated in the mind of the
Creator. After the wilful disobedience of Adam and Eve,
God acted proactively to secure His cherished value. He
expelled them from the Garden of Eden and posted angels to
secure it so that the rebellious humans would not eat the fruit
of life and live in perpetuity as sinners (Genesis 3:22-24).
Long before Adam and Eve, God had faced a major security
challenge right there in His kingdom in the rebellion of one
of His leading Angels, Lucifer. (Isaiah 14:12-15, Revelation
12:7-9). In the two incidents cited, God pre-modelled
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PATRIOTISM AND NATIONAL SECURITY WHAT IS NATIONAL SECURITY?
national security, accentuating its absolute necessity for the community believes necessary to enjoy its own self-
maintenance of peace and order in any given human society. determination or autonomy, prosperity, and well-
being.” 10
National security has been variously defined. Samples of
the definitions are as follow: Thus, national security encompasses those activities of
According to Macmillan Dictionary (Online government and people of any nation that ensure the
Version), National Security is “the protection or the creation of a congenial political atmosphere that encourages
safety of a country's secrets and its citizens.” wholesome and legitimate pursuit of individual and
corporate aspirations whether intellectual, economic,

Arnold Wolfers (1960), “National security
spiritual or social without undue interference from others.
objectively means the absence of threats to acquired
values and subjectively, the absence of fear that Ensuring national security is therefore the first line of duty
such values will be attacked.” 8 for any government. It is a truism that no government can
effectively cater for the welfare of its people unless it first

From Harold Brown, who served as the United
creates an atmosphere where law and order prevail, and
States of America Secretary of Defence from 1977
people go about their legitimate business freely in a secure
to 1981, comes this definition: “National Security ...
environment. The National Security Strategy for the
is the ability to preserve the nation's physical
Federal Republic of Nigeria observes that "there is need for
integrity and territory; to maintain its economic
the government to credibly deter, disrupt, and dismantle
relations with the rest of the world on reasonable
threats to the peace, before they are able to start internal
terms; to preserve its nature, institution, and
crises, conflicts or launch deadly attacks that sow panic
governance from disruption from outside; and to
across the country and reduce the Nigerian peoples'
control its borders.” 9
confidence in their government."11 Our nation is today
crawling on fours because of seemingly intractable security

For Charles Maier, a History Professor at Harvard
challenges, intentionally orchestrated by the enemies of
University, “National Security ... is best described
progress to keep us in the doldrums while other nations of
as a capacity to control those domestic and foreign
much lesser potentials are taking their places among the
conditions that the public opinion of a given
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