Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President or any other public official save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. - Theodore Roosevelt Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response sometimes seen in an abducted hostage, in which the hostage can show signs of having feelings of loyalty to the hostage-taker, regardless of the danger (or at least risk) in which the hostage has been placed. Stockholm syndrome is also sometimes discussed in reference to other situations with similar tensions, such as battered persons syndrome, rape cases, child abuse cases and bride kidnapping. The syndrome is named after the Norrmalmstorg robbery of Kreditbanken at Norrmalmstorg, Stockholm, Sweden, in which the bank robbers held bank employees hostage from August 23 to August 28 in 1973 In this case, the victims became emotionally attached to their victimizers, and even defended their captors after they were freed from their six-day ordeal. The term Stockholm syndrome was chosen by the criminologist and psychiatrist Nils Bejerot.

As the count down to Obasanjo's departure continue, I have asked a lot of people what they think would be Obasanjo's legacies, what was he likely to be remembered for, many die hard fans think he indeed has been the messiah and should infact not go, others think he faired pretty well but should still go, yet others also think he was a failure. Whichever side of the divide the truth is that he succeeded in instilling in Nigerians a new Nigerian syndrome, a fear in Nigerians that without him nothing could be or that was that could have been. He was or is Mr. Perfect. The man and his band of ruffians called PDP took Nigerians hostage to a point we have feelings of loyalty regardless of the pains that they have put us through. Obasanjo called Atiku a fraud, Atiku accused Obasanjo of embezzlement and then we are asking each other who stole most. The system and structure called Nigeria through this 'regime' has been battered, abused and left in a state of neither here nor there. A leadership without purpose through which such battering have instilled loyalty in us so much so we say "they have tried", Nigerians are difficult people", "they brought this and that...the unspeakable things we say about the successes of this government show that we are suffering the Stockholm syndrome. In the absence of better, no hope for the best, we gladly advertise our ignorance in just accepting the manageable as we are not even befitting for good. Should this government not be called the PDP robbery, the Abuja syndrome, where rather than fight for the upliftment of the masses it has been a battle between home based politician and Abuja demigods.

Is it news that nothing works, we rejoice with so called corporate gurus that build depots to store imported refined petroleum products and banks that loan them money but refuse to give money for refineries to be built because off course one is more profitable than the other to the so-called entrepreneurs. What is news that we have no electricity but we intend to export same to Ghana. Is it news that in parts of Lagos OPC have been hired to help share NEPA bills because of fear of consumers’ reaction? With the syndrome, Nigerians have no choice than to love a leadership that has denied them the basics of life. A government that has turned every right thinking Nigerian to a mad man, professionals to thieves and crooks, doctors to night room abortionists and barbers into carpenters with clippers. In our battered state, we wear PDP wrappers, AC headgears and DPP foot wears, so how can we complain.

I was with a group of doctor friends, many of them used unprintable words in describing this government, unfortunately a particular doctor was of the opinion that the government had done well, two weeks later that doctor had left the nation with his family, he now practices in the UK. This is a capsule of frustration that is suffered by the average Nigerian professional. We are the victimized but we have developed emotional attachments with the victimizers, we defend them at our own peril, regardless of the dangers, we wittingly believe that we have no choice. At an interview with a State CEO Journalist were firing tough question at the man, sensing that his boss was being boxed, the media attaché quickly brought in some drinks and 'instantta' the pen pushers dropped their pens, recorders and interview was over. Reports on the pages of the paper next day could be imagined...shared loyalty, we have become part and parcel of the robbery, a partner in progress with a government that has taken its people hostage.

The forthcoming election should at least whether or whether not be able to help us to remove crooks, instill capable leaders or at worse stop crooks from getting into position of leadership, rather we are willing to defend our captors, foolishly or as a result of lack of will, we have accepted our own Stockholm syndrome, some call it the Nigerian factor, myth but the truth is just that as a people we just feel it will happen. At a PDP rally some hired touts brought brooms which were burnt to spite the rival AC, while a Presidential candidate on a visit to a media house was given an umbrella as memento, he refused it, at a particular State rally a woman complained bitterly that she had not been paid for the brooms she supplied, in Jos, Buhari created an uproar as his supporters took the city by storm but rather than with corn, they branded all sorts of dangerous weapons and momentarily were in charge, molesting innocent people. Unfortunately same us will do everything and anything for these same bunch that has impoverished us, same people responsible for where we are today. Apologies though, we are confused but we have the sanity of mind to ask that our leaders take psychiatric tests, a man steals billions, most times this man is beyond 40 years, he steals so much that if he spends 50,000 a day he still will be rich 20 years after...what do we do as a people?

Our own Stockholm, the Nigerian syndrome, we give him a title Igwe Otunba Barawo II of Akalaland, a honors doctorate for sticky hands on government funds, we make sure he is always chairman, chairwoman and chair boy and 'thief launcher' inclusive and we think we are not mental. This is the affection, the loyalty, the feelings that make it possible for them to continue to loot us blind, lead us deaf, tear us mute and cripple us with lies, lies and lies. The other day in Ibadan the President praised Adedibu, the garrison commander of Oyo politics that can barely spell his name, the same man the once told us the President knelt for him, same man that dared Ribadu and nothing happened is being showered Presidential affection, the same man that took possession of INEC boxes and nothing happened. Even the President is struck with this syndrome...he fears what you and I do not know, and spare me let me say he fears also what we know...Jail a second time...smile, only that this time it would not be framed up charges but true charges, at best he would get the House arrest treatment and then go the Tafa Balogun way. Nigeria, Nigerians need to take their destiny in their hands, nobody would do it for us, and all that we hear today are fake promises, vows and oaths made under the influence of bread and tea. Almighty Allah cannot help us if we do not seek His help....

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Robot  Villager

# 1 Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President or any other...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 28.03.2007 07:56

TEchi  Villager

# 2 It is amazing how well you have described the Nigerian mess as similar to that of the Stockholm hostage syndrome. OBJ and his band of PDP riff raffs did take Nigeria for a ride to a new height to the point of the madness you articulated. It is also interesting to note that there are some governments paid Journalists who think that OBJ and his band is the thing for Nigeria and as such should be allowed to rule Nigeria for as long as he wished but I think these go beyond the Stockholm syndrome manifestation. They write effervescently in support of OBJ and his band of rats and at the same time try to convince one they are being objective. These are like paid assassins who claim morality in the face of their deeds playing on the sympathy of the innocents. Howbeit Nigeria need leaders with visions who can take us out of the hole dug by this administration. Whatever the case if this election is not rigged by the selfish and callous politicians the common man will have his revenge. Posted by TEchi| 28.03.2007 10:06