I join all well meaning Nigerians to congratulate the families of the rescued students and teachers in Oyo State who were held captive in Oyo forest for well over 50 days. I rejoice with the government and people of Oyo State who have been in the news for the wrong reasons in the last two months.
The trauma the teachers and students went through and the agony suffered by their family members while it lasted is better imagined. Sadly, one of the abduct£d teachers did not come out alive. I sincerely condole with the family of the sl@in teacher. May his soul find peaceful repose and may God comfort his family members.
I want to specially join all good spirited Nigerians to say a big thank you to the men of the Nigerian Armed Forces who put their lives on the line to answer the patriotic call to rescue the abductees from the lion’s den. I even learnt one of the gallant operatives paid the supreme price. May his family be comforted by his heroic exit and may his soul rest peacefully.
This is not forgetting that there are still many more captives in various forests across Nigeria. In fairness, no Nigerian deserves to lose his freedom to these men of easy virtue. It is a sad reminder that freedom of movement is no longer the right of an average Nigerian in his own country. May the good times return when every Nigerian is free to exercise his right to life and freedom of movement.
It is becoming increasingly impossible to ignore some fellow Nigerians who claim to be more patriotic than others because they do not support the ruling government. They call themselves the truest Nigerians. Many atime, they mistake their opinion for truth and vilify anyone who chooses to have a mind of their own. These Nigerians are not who they claim to be. They must be told even if they don’t like to hear.
If you amplified the ‘helplessness’ of the government you don’t like in a country you love when innocent children were abduct£d; if you believed a video posted by unknown b@ndits in their propagandist display of staged control without asking for evidence but needed a video evidence before you believe the security forces when they announced the rescue of the abduct£d children and their teachers, you may think you are a patriot but a toxic agitator is a closer description.
Every Nigerian has an inalienable right to prefer whom s/he wants as a leader. There is freedom of association and freedom of choice of which no one should be denied but you cannot recruit anyone to hate the country you claim to love and call yourself the only patriot, neither can you vilify those who don’t agree with your beliefs and call yours the truth. Opinions may vary but there is only one truth.
Don’t tell me you love Nigeria more than I do because I don’t like what you like. We are a different people. Allow me to exercise my freedom of choice but I promise to respect your preference. No patriot rejoices in bad news about his country but looks for every means to discredit any news that elevates the spirit.
The line between patriotism and toxicity is very thick. Patriotism speaks to the love of country without indulging bad leadership. It condemns wrongdoing no matter who is involved. Toxicity reduces the good of the country and public interest to personal wishes. It is venomous. When toxicity stings, everyone is a potential victim.
I’d rather be a patriot.
©️ Akin Oluwadare Jnr
13 July 2026
