Fela Durotoye - THE CHRISTMAS DAY TERRORIST: DEFINITELY NOT A NIGERIAN!

THE CHRISTMAS DAY TERRORIST: DEFINITELY NOT A NIGERIAN!

As we're aware by now, on Christmas Day, a terrorist attempted to blow up a North West airline plane enroute from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan.

Thank God he was stopped by the clear thinking of the passengers.

Imagine the shock we all felt when his nationality was confirmed as a NIGERIAN!!

I'm presently in the United Kingdom on holidays with my family and all the news is "The Nigerian Terrorist", "The Nigerian Terrorist", "The Nigerian Terrorist".

It's amazing how one person has the power to make a difference, either positively or negatively.

Nigeria, as a nation is blessed with over 150 million hardworking people and one bad egg is not enough to ruin our national pride.

As it is, everyone's been asking me what my thoughts on the matter are and I've decided to use this medium to respond.

First off, let me categorically state that the gentleman in question is NOT A NIGERIAN!

I don't mean that i disprove his birth or his nationality. I simply mean that based on the values we have put forward and endorsed of who a true Nigerian is; he cannot be described as Nigerian.

As you may remember, in 2008, I initiated a Core Value system for Nigerian youths that was adopted by over 420 young leaders in Abuja, Nigeria.

These 10 values of a True Nigerian are what have come to be described as the GEMSTONE values:

Allow me to share the values of a TRUE NIGERIAN:

1. Make a positive impact on everyone you meet and everywhere you go: Obviously with Umar Mutallab’s intention to blow up the NorthWest plane, he definitely wasn’t making positive impact,
therefore cannot be described as Nigerian.

2. Be a ROLE MODEL worthy of emulation: We definitely are in agreement that Mr. Mutallab’s actions are not worthy of emulation; therefore he is not Nigerian.

3. Be a solution to problems and not a problem to solutions: Attempting to blow people up is creating a problem and now Mr. Mutallab is being regarded as a problem that needs to be solved. A Nigerian is a solution provider, not a problem that needs solving.

4. Be the best in all you do particularly the things you are naturally good at.

5. Do the right thing regardless of who is doing the wrong thing: Obviously, Umar Mutallab’s desire to do the wrong thing does not fulfill the prerequisites of our value system.

6. Value time and make the best of it.

7. Care and show that you care through your words and actions: Umar Mutallab’s desire to annihilate over 300 innocent lives and in turn, their extended family, does not show care and respect towards human life.

8. Consciously build a great legacy, starting today & everyday.

9. Live a life of INTEGRITY: Integrity is a virtue that must be pursued… it’s an alignment of positive thoughts with positive words and positive actions.

10. Make your family, nation & God proud. Be someone’s claim to fame: You will agree with me that Umar Mutallab has brought untold shame to his family and his nation; with everyone disavowing him. He has also brought shame to his Creator. I know that Moslems are peace loving and tolerant people and they do not adhere to violence as a way of life.

From this list, you can see that Mr. Mutallab does not epitomize the Nigerian value system; he is clearly NOT A NIGERIAN.

What would happen if every Nigerian epitomized these 10 values?

What type of nation would we have?

Undoubtedly, the world’s most desirable nation to live in.

“Rebranding” a nation begins first in the minds, paradigms and value systems of the people before the external approach.

I’m dedicating my life in 2010 in the pursuit of the national endorsement of these values.

It’s time for the world to see Nigerians as we truly are; hardworking, tolerant, friendly and helpful people.

Let’s show the world that one “Umar Mutallab” does not exemplify the whole nation.

We are proudly Nigerian.

Good people of a Great Nation.

FD

Comments

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opeyemi

|2010-01-10 12:39:28

Can we get this message to the outside world somehow? many Nigerians are mad at
this decision and about 93,000 people have joined the "get us off the list
group" on face book. is there a way we can present the true Nigeria to the
outside world. 'cos stations like CNN are feeding the whole world with the wrong
information. We need a world class TV station. it's true we have challenges and
different attitudes we need to deal with as a country but we have a lot-millions
of individuals who are reasonable and making positive impacts but it's kinda
like little bad news are more publicized than a lot of good news.

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