The Jonathan gov’t must earn the loyalty it demands By Japheth Omojuwa

One will always be loyal to Nigeria but one cannot guarantee loyalty to its government at anytime. Loyalty to a system is earned not given. Sophists of repressive and non-performing governments often make it look like the government of a country and the country are the same. But are they? It is obvious they are not.

Nigerians have celebrated the death of at least one of its Head of government. The celebration was not because they were not loyal to their country; it was because they were indeed loyal. More often than not the position of loyalty one takes with a government depends on the loyalty of that government to the state itself. If a government is found to be loyal to select individuals rather than the majority of the people, the people lose belief in that government. A supposed pastor said Nigerians remain loyal to the European clubs irrespective of the kind of season they have but are not loyal to their country in difficult times. That’s bollocks. Nigerians are more loyal to their country than their government. Was it loyalty to country that made Goodluck Jonathan grant DSP Alamiyeseigha a state pardon or loyalty to an individual? Was the pardon granted in the interest of the Nigerian people or was it in the interest of Goodluck Jonathan and his mentor?

Is it out of loyalty to Nigeria that the present government is yet to achieve a major conviction of marketers that made away with at least N1 trillion in 2011? Is that loyalty to Nigeria or loyalty to cronies? Is it out of loyalty to Nigeria that young men who took arms against the country are now regular guests at its seat of power or out of loyalty to clan? How can Nigerians be loyal to a government that is not loyal to the country? We must not be fooled into equating Nigeria with the Nigerian government. The latter has changed form over the years, the former has been the same for over half a century. Governments have come and gone, we loved some, we were indifferent to some and some earned the hatred of Nigerians. Only a liar will equate country and government because they are not one and the same.

I will always serve my country with all my strength but I cannot say the same for its government. Every government must earn its loyalty. The current government does not deserve the loyalty of Nigerians because it has not been loyal to the majority of Nigerians. Goodluck Jonathan’s loyalty has been to his clans and cronies. Where he had to choose whom to suffer between Nigerians and his interests, he had always preferred Nigerians to suffer. We cannot be fooled into thinking loyalty to Goodluck Jonathan is the same as loyalty to Nigeria. I owe my country my service; I do not owe Goodluck Jonathan and his cronies anything whatsoever. If they want my loyalty and that of Nigerians, they must earn it. As it is, they look like they are incapable of that because they do not care about the majority of Nigerians. As long as the Alamiyeseighas and the Diezani’s of this world are happy, Nigerians can go to hell! That is the posture of this government.

It was easy for governments to fool many in times past because government controlled 100% of the media. In times past, only government sources provided the news. Government was in charge of all that you knew about government. It is still the same for many whose life of knowing still depend solely on the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria. Things have changed for most; people now have access to multiple media. If the government wants loyalty, all it needs do is serve Nigeria and Nigerians. Today’s government is serving itself not the people. Loyalty my foot!