What does it mean to love Nigeria?

Football is the biggest and only sports that unite people all over the world and Nigeria inclusive. Despite the insurgents in the North-East, Herdsmen attacks in the West and Middle Belt and the Niger-Delta crisis in the South-South, one thing is very sure, when it comes to football, there is only one Nigeria and only one Super Eagles.

In Nigeria’s opening match at the 2018 World Cup against Croatia, Nigerians all over the country and around the world exemplified the same unity by supporting the Super Eagles. However, there was twist to that support.

Apparently, it appeared that a lot of Nigerians that showed support and love were just being hypocritical, they actually put their money on the opposing team. Betting fans know that the best way to predict a win or loss for a match is to rely on data and this is exactly what happened.

Google Analytics had predicted a 56 per cent probability for Croatia and 18 per cent for Nigeria and 26 per cent chance of playing a draw.

So most Nigerians who purportedly showed ‘love’ actually put their money on Croatia but continue to profess undying ‘love’ for the Nigerian team.

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Now let’s analyse the match. Marc (a German friend) was sitting with my team yesterday at the 7th German-Nigerian Business Forum; the forum’s focus is to discuss Nigeria’s business and investment potential in various sectors with emphasis on agribusiness, renewable energy and technology.

We discussed at length and interestingly digressed into the Nigerian performance at the opening match. According to Marc, the match was his first time watching the Nigerian team play and he was impressed. The two goals were accidental and he believes the team can give a better performance in their next match against Iceland.

Marc’s optimism about Nigeria makes me further wonder why foreigner tend to love our country more than we do. For example, why are other countries spending their own money organizing a forum on how to develop our country but we have people in the same country who prefer buying G-Wagons instead? Story for another day, I guess!

When Nigerians say they love their country, what do they really mean? People say something about Nigeria but do completely opposite. We all complain that things are bad and why other countries are having it better than we do, but have really asked ourselves what makes a country great? Do we even have a value system that guides our actions?

I have seen cases at a federal institution where I was asked to come back next day because I was coming at 3pm to submit a document.

According to them, they don’t treat any file in the afternoon. All pleas to explain how difficult it would be to travel down the next morning fell on deaf ears. We put all our blames on the public officials (politicians) but we fail to criticise the ills in our very environment. Love they say is an action word.

It is in doing that we know if you love someone or not. If your fellow Nigerian needs help but you deny him/her because he/she is not from your state or region, how then do you claim that you love your country? People make up a country, therefore, how you treat your fellow man determines the extent of your love for the country.

As Nigerians, we also need to understand that countries are built by the hard work of its citizenry. But what I discovered is that many Nigerians have resorted to praying their way into success rather than putting in the work.

We also saw this with the Nigerian Super Eagles who prayed three (3) times in a crucial match where strategy and hard work is all they needed to win. Prayer is good but when we get to work, let us please do the actual work.

It was said that Bishop David Oyedepo once famously sacked a receptionist for reading the Bible at work. It is an abomination to be doing the right things at the wrong time.

Resuming in church/mosque on week days when others are at work is called laziness. You are not doing God a favour.

In 90 per cent of the time, the main reasons you go to church/mosque everyday are for selfish interest. You obviously need something from God not because you love him that much. So, let us be sincere with ourselves. What do you mean when you say, ‘I love Nigeria’.

Adetunji Adeniran is a Consultant/Head of Business at LURVITY (Business Development company with interest in Engineering and Energy Sector). He is also the Convener of YNAG (a global brand dedicated to training, coaching and engaging young people in leadership and governance space).
He can be reached on social media as @Adetunji1212