Genuine Patriotism

Patriotism, the love of one’s country is an ingredient of political maturity. But what makes it genuine? An important question indeed because patriotism, like democratic practice is an attribute we cannot claim to have if we ignore its ingredients. 
The impact of whatever is embraced and undertaken in the interest of compatriots can only be seen and felt through a selfless commitment to the ideals that serve the people despite their ethnic or political leanings.
Our country, like other African nations that after the attainment of political independence and experiment with the single party system, opted for multi-party governance, continues to face a number of challenges. Fortunately, these can be relinquished, if our political elite truly love themselves and are committed to the country’s socio-economic needs, unity, peace, political stability and development.
However, the main causes of these weaknesses can be redressed, and attention focused on the consolidation of unity, peace and development. This can be effected through respect of democratic principles and genuine love of our country and adherence to legalities and legitimacies, that render meaningful, our institutions.
On the contrary, if leaders or political elite are tempted to undermine the basic norms of patriotism, they would be destroying the elements of genuine democratic practice. 
The challenge, most African young democracies today face, is the temptation to be more loyal to political associations and ethnic affiliations than the various elements of sovereignty. What a miscarriage of priorities!
Yet, political or ethnic loyalty at the expense of peace, and national cohesion is political suicide that must be relinquished at all levels of administration, management, and politicking. As concerns elections: Municipal, Regional Legislative, Senatorial or Presidential, this element of genuine patriotism in our elite s...