Abuja acknowledges Nigerians have lost belief in nationhood, patriotism
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Abuja has acknowledged and lamented Nigerians no longer believe their elected leaders, nor in the concept of nationhood and patriotism, necessitating the need to reintroduce a national discourse on reorientation.
Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris disclosed this when he fielded questions from Aso Rock correspondents after meeting behind closed-doors with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
He acknowledged belief in nationhood and patriotism has been eroded, saying Tinubu has given him the mandate to reconstruct it.
“Well, of course, you know that the belief in the concept of nationhood and patriotism has broken down in this country. This is not in doubt. We’re trying to rebuild that, to reconstruct that,” he said.
“Mr. President gave me a marching order to see that Nigerians believe in this country once again. We’re coming up with national discourse on orientation or reorientation so that Nigerians can believe in their country.
“You know that people don’t even believe leaders that they themselves have elected. Flags are not flying anymore. You go [Nigerian government buildings] overseas, you don’t even see the symbol of our collective existence, flying even in public buildings.
“We’re bringing that about, we are bringing back this concept of discipline that Nigerians should have. Patriotism. Belief in the nationhood that our founding fathers have told us.
“So it is going to be a new Minister of information and national orientation and national orientation is going to be at the centre of it.”
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Tinubu admin won’t gag the media, Idris pledges
Idris disclosed plans are underway to revive information offices in the 774 council areas in the country, equipped with personnel to implement the new reorientation drive, per Vanguard.
“Well, the national orientation agency has offices in the 774 LGAs. Of course, there’s attrition now, not all the people that will man these local government offices are there, but we are rebuilding that.
”We are going to put officers of the envoy around all the 774 LGAs and we are coming up with a roadmap that will revamp that sector so that Nigerians can believe in their country once again.”
Idris promised the Tinubu administration will not seek to gag the media, the President being a believer in freedom of the press himself, but warned the media must exercise such freedom with responsibility.