South Africa is now a member of the United Nations' Security Council, albeit, a non veto wielding  non permanent member unlike the USA , Britain , France , China and Russia .

And Oh, Panama is also now a member of this new regime of Security Council as recently expanded.

While the jostling lasted, Nigeria , South Africa and Egypt were the countries in Africa that were in contention and competing to be the representative of our continent.

During that period, all sorts of Nigerians commented on Nigeria 's chances or lack thereof, of becoming a permanent member of the United Nations expanded and enlarged Security Council. Every commentator/journalist went negative on Nigeria and as they argued strenuously as to why Nigeria will not make it and why Nigeria does not deserve to make it.

And as a man thinketh, so he truly is, apologies to Thomas Ozodi Osuji a writer with http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/ozodi-thomas-osuji/ones-expectations-influence-what-happens-t.html It came to pass that those Nigerians who did not wish Nigeria well, prevailed either through concerted efforts or by default, without any efforts of theirs.

Soon after that, came the recent nominations and elections to the United Nations' International Law Commission. Again, Nigeria was in contention, and again, those who are only visible when they engage in campaign of calumny against Nigeria , reared their ugly heads again! They were busy lampooning Mr. Ojo and Nigeria .

Once more, they engaged in denigrating Nigeria , lampooning Nigeria political leadership, as they loudly proclaimed Nigeria 's Attorney General as unqualified, incompetent and unsuitable to hold the UN Commission's exulted as a representative of Nigeria and Africa .

Thankfully, these Nigerians who are so adept at shooting themselves in the foot, failed woefully. These noise-makers were unsuccessful in derailing Barrister Bayo Ojo's nomination and eventual election to the UN post. And now, they will not even concede that they lost? They will not concede that Barrister Ojo and by extension, Nigeria , have been vindicated?

The Guardian Newspapers on Monday November 27, 2006 sought to give vent and voice to those who were erroneously working against Nigeria's national interests, with their clamor against Mr. Ojo and of course Nigeria. The Guardian Newspapers editorial opinion gleefully recounted how Professor Soyinka and some other Nigerians campaigned to defeat Mr. Ojo's candidacy. But it must be borne in mind that Mr. Ojo was nominated because of his position in Nigeria and not in his personal capacity. This means that a defeat of Mr. Ojo's candidacy meant a defeat for Nigeria . It is that simple! The argument that there are other qualified Nigerian lawyers, is to say the least, is a uselessly worthless argument.

What the critics of Mr. Ojo, the critics of Nigeria miss, is that they were using a very inauspicious occasion and forum to vilify Nigeria  and "criticize" Nigeria .

It must be realized by all those who love Nigeria , that Nigeria 's national interests, Nigeria 's national purpose is paramount and crucial in every and all circumstances. Those who seek Nigeria 's defeat at international forums and competitions cannot say they are driven by love for Nigeria or by patriotism. Those who seek Nigeria's humiliation on world stage and at world events, must realize their own folly in seeking to defeat the same nation for which they profess love and claim to wish well. No child should profess loving his mother, if the child  chooses to humiliate her publicly every chance the child gets! Even if the child’s mother is a bad stepfather and bad husband to the child’s mother; nothing will ever justify constant public humiliations of a mother by her child. Nothing!

Some Nigerian citizens act worse than the leadership of Nigeria which the constantly criticize. With citizens like these, Nigeria 's detractors and enemies do not even have to work hard. This attack on Nigeria 's national interests is constant and a permanent feature and pattern in how some high profile Nigerians chose to deal with Nigeria 's national interests. It must be remembered that these same Nigerians were opposed to debt forgiveness drive by Nigeria , in that effort, they also failed. With some Nigerian citizens opposed to our national interests the way they adamantly and insistently do? Does Nigeria need enemies?

Other countries which competed for the UN Law Commission spot did not have the boisterous and loud distractions that were mounted against Nigeria by some Nigerians.  

There were many countries that were in the competition to become one of the new non-veto, non-permanent member of the expanded Security Council, these were mostly tiny countries, smaller in size, populations and resources compared with Nigeria . Some of these countries were in other parts of Africa and others were in South America and Asia . All of them are developing countries just like Nigeria , in some cases, Nigeria is actually doing better than some of them ... both politically, economically and every other respects or senses.  

And none of these other countries were bedeviled with "internal opposition" to their candidacies similar to the nonsense that some Nigerians chose to visit on Nigeria 's candidacy!  

Clearly, the nationals of these other competing countries are smart enough to realize and appreciate their national interests and national purpose...particularly more so, at time of competition of importance and in the international arena, for positions, such as in the United Nations and its agencies. 

It must be clear to Nigerians who are world-aware, that the absence of divisive internal opposition to the candidacies of other countries, who sought along with Nigeria , to become part of the newly expanded and enlarged UN Security Council, were not because these other countries were perfect countries. These other countries, competing with Nigeria , of course have their own internal imperfections, schisms and frictions.

These other competing countries have their own internal squabbles and disagreements. But it appears they do know when and where to draw the line? When it comes to world competitions and when it comes to shining on world stage. This, it appears some Nigerians do not appreciate, do not know how to do or do not care?

When will some Nigerians learn to put our collective best feet forward on world stage, world arenas and international forums? Have some of these Nigerians noticed how America compete at international events including the Olympics and even at the UN? America's public facade of cohesiveness to the world, leaves everyone clueless as to America internal frictions of race divide, internally competing and often conflicting interests of a multi-racial, multi-cultural or plural society which America is and why should some Nigerians be different regarding Nigeria?

I am left to ask why Nigeria 's best and brightest are always loudest and heard, when they oppose Nigeria 's laurels, Nigeria gold medals and Nigeria 's finest hour?

Why can't some of these Nigerians use their intellect to advocate Nigeria 's worthy causes?

Why can't these Nigerians lobby for Nigeria ? Or if they always have nothing good to say about Nigeria , why can't they be quiet? There are of course many good things to say about Nigeria , why are these Nigerians never ever heard to be saying these good things?

Where were all these people when Nigeria 's case was pending at the International Court? Where were these same people when Nigeria lobbied for debt forgiveness? Where were these people when Nigeria lobbied to host international sporting events and lost? Where were these same Nigerians when Nigeria needed all the help that Nigeria could get in becoming member of the enlarge United Nations' Security Council?

Why is it, that some high profile Nigerians are always at their most eloquent when they seek to humiliate Nigeria on world stage? Why is it that these Nigerians are so adept at lending their voices at derailing Nigeria 's national interests and national purpose?

Why is it that some Nigerians only excel in biting themselves most effectively? And in effect, shooting their own collective feet?

All Nigerians should be more attentive to everything that constitute Nigeria 's national interests. All Nigerians should be more assertive and effective in advocating and advancing Nigeria 's worthy causes.

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 27.11.2006 14:29

Abraxas  Villager

# 2 Hi, folks! Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. Muchas gracias, mi amigo. Don Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III) Posted by Abraxas| 27.11.2006 22:02

Afeni  Villager

# 3 And what exactly is "Nigeria's worthy cause"? The counry is a failure by all meanings of the word. Not many would have protested Bayo Ojo's appointment had he declared the illegal impeachments against the constitution. Instead the bastard PDP pet is busy bending the rules to please his masters. Posted by Afeni| 28.11.2006 03:16

Fjord  Villager

# 4 When will some Nigerians learn to put our collective best feet forward on world stage, world arenas and international forums? Have some of these Nigerians noticed how America compete at international events including the Olympics and even at the UN? This is at best a "curious" question. Curious for the very fact that Ojo wasn't (at least by those who actively opposed his nomination) considered to have - shall we say - the best of feet. The very objection of those who think differently is that given his very recent history in the execution of anything like justice in Nigeria, Ojo would not qualify to represent the country. Do you fault that argument? The implication of the tortured argument is clear when carried to the extreme: say the former IG of the Nigerian Police, yeah, the one proficient at thieving, say he's in good-standing - though his advanced thieving methods are well known - and he's nominated to represent Nigeria in some international police function; will patriotism mean his candidacy be supported by thinking people? America's public facade of cohesiveness to the world, leaves everyone clueless as to America internal frictions of race divide, internally competing and often conflicting interests of a multi-racial, multi-cultural or plural society which America is and why should some Nigerians be different regarding Nigeria? First, the comparison is odious. Second, one searched, hard, to find that facade in John Bolton's (still unconfirmed) position at the UN, say. I will now appeal to a well-known authority, albeit not in politics; but the words find relevance here: 'Nationalism is an infantile disease; it is the measles of mankind'. The came could be said of the kind of patriotism one's read about on this page. . Posted by Fjord| 28.11.2006 03:42

akuluouno  Villager

# 5 All Nigerians should be more attentive to everything that constitute Nigeria 's national interests. All Nigerians should be more assertive and effective in advocating and advancing Nigeria 's worthy causes. Deriving from the above conclusions, two question have become gernmane: who are the Nigerians and what are the national interests? Massob, OPC and Mend are clearly at the forefront in terms of being assertive and effective in advancing and advocating Nigeria's worthy causes. I will accept challenges from anyone who thinks otherwise except you want to take us to the days when the expression of nationalism as ordained by Baba was in the ability to sing the national anthem. Posted by akuluouno| 28.11.2006 05:57

GASHI  Villager

# 6 Mr. Paul I. Adujie, I know that to you, no one in OBJ's governemnt does any evil. Now you are a lawyer, isn't it? Your friend Bayo Ojo was a disgrace. His action in Oyo State was overly outrageous. How can such a fellow be the one go to represent Nigeria out there? Wouldn't his past continue to haunt us all before the outside world? Posted by GASHI| 28.11.2006 06:25

Oghre  Villager

# 7 Nice article but I think you are giving Nigerians too much credit, do you think many love Nigeria the way you do? Nigeria is an amalgam of nationalities, tribes and cultures that should not have been in the first place, Nigerians cannot lay claim to patriotism because they are not true nationals. Who represents the Nigerian interest, is it the Hausa/Fulani Arabic migrants lumbered into Nigeria by nothing more than colonialism? Is it the houses of Oduduwa or the Igbo who think of other Nigerians as not deserving of being part of the same entity? Is it the Oil producing south/south that is denied their true rights and privileges and continue to be raped, looted and abused by the leadership of the country? My man we are a contraption and putrefaction of chance and opportunism, we were not destined to co-exist. It was designed that way and may remain so for a long time. On the reputation of Nigeria; Mandela said it all when he said “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission” Nigerians continue to allow the world press and the rest of developed and developing world to humiliate her everyday, why? Because Nigerians allow it. A mallam minister some time ago in Ireland told the Irish Prime minister that emigrants and criminals from Nigeria are not northerners; he said Hausa/Fulani people are a completely different class entirely. A week later Bertie Aherne, the Prime minister decided to change his tune, his statements were now stuff like “Ireland will like to understand why Southern Nigerian criminals make Ireland their destination is such large droves. That is the level of patriotism of an appointed government minister who is supposed to be an ambassador of his country. I personally think these mallams are more patriotic to Syria, Mecca and Kabul. Nigerians are not comfortable in themselves and don’t know how to defend their country, many of us are “I don’t care” Can you imagine AIDS infested south Africans in London can sit with you in a bar and pour abuse on Nigerians at will, the Indians, Chinese, whites and even the criminal Lebanese still think we are easy to pick on. The world has now identified Nigeria as a country you can abuse whenever you like, our people are treated like criminals the world over not only because our government is useless but because the average Nigerian don’t feel patriotic enough to stand up for themselves and their fellow countrymen. Many Nigerian have come to accept abuse from airport officials as routine, when I have confronted many of these immigration staff while brandishing a European passport myself they have implied that Nigerians are not the worse culprits but the easiest to mistreat. suffice to say Nigerians actually look the part when their rights are being abused by overzealous bagatelles of many countries. I have on many occasions sent emails and faxes to the immigration services and internal affairs governments of these countries but how many abused Nigerians do? Do the embassies protest, do we spark diplomatic rows over these issues like others do? I rest my case Posted by Oghre| 28.11.2006 07:01

Naija for life  Villager

# 8 Insightful words, Oghre. I believe many of the problems you have iddentified can be ascribed to this most unsavoury trait peculiar to Africans: An insatiable lust for the society of outsiders. Africans remain the only group of people on this earth who refuse to accept the simple and critical notion that familiarity breeds contempt. And no one has underscored that axiom more than our own president. Obasanjo has squndered crucial revenue visiting countries around the world which attach zero importance to Nigeria's position in world affairs. During these visits, he and his lackeys usually fawn over their hosts and generally exude the impression of people elated to mingle with foreigners. That these foreigners, in all likelihood, regard them in the most derogatory terms, resonates not a whit with our shameless leaders. Obasanjo has signed every wretched, sovereignty-neutering treaty presented to him. He has accorded a foreign country the right to shoot Nigerian citizens on Nigerian soil, to patrol Nigerian waters, and has presided over an ex parte debt repayment deal that has surrendered billions of our precious foreign exchange to foreign debtors. Finally, he has presided over the cession of the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon and the award of lucrative oil blocs to China and other foreigners. And his reward for such concerted complaisance? Why, contempt by the same foreigners whose priorities dominate his every waking moment of course The foreign media will not mention his name or his office in their dispatches. I have never heard the name "Obasanjo" on the American electronic media, and in the print media, all citations of his activies are inevitably relegated to the obsure, and nearly indiscernible sections. He has never been invited to address the U.S. senate, or favored with any other dignity commesurate with his cooperative posture towards western and other foreign interests. Indeed, he is unknown to the overwhelming majority of Americans, and I suspect to other Non Nigerians as well. Meanwhile, presidents of countries like Afghanistan, which probably can boast of no more than ten feet of paved road in the entire country, receive the five star treatment from the white house and the American media when visiting the United States. Heads of countries like Saudi Arabia, where women are institutionally and constitutionally opressed, and that succumbs to the occasional unprovoked murder of Americans are also engaged by the American government with a reverence it makes a particular point of denying people like Obasanjo. You see, in this world, when you give the impression that your life depends on consorting with a group of people, move heaven and earth to to ingratiate yourself into their favor, and then act like you have died and gone to heaven when you manage to worm yourself into their company, they tend to disdain and abominate you. This also accounts for the pervasiveness of racism against Africans. We welcome every derelict of questionable intentions into our continents, while they repay us by clinging to, and diseminating exclusively negative images about us. Until we disavow this indescriminate spirit of exuberance that we liberally extend to saint and devil alike, we have not yet begun to suffer. Posted by Naija for life| 28.11.2006 08:14

Kabikala  Villager

# 9 The viewpoints expressed in this article is the typical argument for patriotism during the Abacha era. Is the writer saying Nigerians should promote a government that did not emerge through their votes and do not rule according to their wishes? A government that finds it easy to break laws with impunity and disregards court judgements, even up to the Supreme Court. No one is bound to respect such government and its appointees. And I am not convinced Frank Nweke is more patriotic than any of these diasporan guys, he is just earning his pay. A Federal Government that sponsored arson against a part of its federation. And launders money through the Presidential jet. To hell with that type of patriotism. It is difficult to defend such a regime or demand respect for its appointees from civilised people. Posted by Kabikala| 28.11.2006 11:49

Calche  Villager

# 10 So, this palace clown-ILN is full back to the NVS! Sad day! Posted by Calche| 28.11.2006 14:01

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