The Founding Pastor of God’s Heritage Global Mission, Archbishop Josef Bassey, has asserted that great nations are built by patriots and not politicians or military might. 

Mr Bassey disclosed this on Friday in Calabar during a press conference which was as part of activities to mark his birthday and to introduce his Premier Cross River State Destiny Awards, coming up on October 2.

The awardees include Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, a former Minister of Finance; Anthony Ani, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Kelvin Etta and a legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kanu Agabi. 

The archbishop, also the Chairman, Council of Cross River State Christian Leaders Forum, said nations were developed by people who loved their lands enough to lay down their lives for it and its people.

He said if that was not in place in a nation, such nation had nothing in place, adding that having the best brains and wonderful politicians without patriots would take a nation nowhere.

He stated, “So until we begin to celebrate patriotism, sacrifices and selfless contributions made by some individuals, more people would see no need of travelling that path of patriotism.

“The Premier Cross River State Destiny Awards on October 2 is an event where we will celebrate basically four of such people whose patriotism and selflessness have contributed in shaping the destiny of the state.

The second part is that we want to immortalise the sacrifices of these patriots and inspire generations in a time when people are only concerned about self and not the collective destiny of the nation.”

Mr Bassey noted that great men should not only be honoured with glowing tributes when they were no more but celebrated as champions and heroes for their selfless and patriotic deeds while still alive.

On the state of the nation, the cleric said Nigeria would change its narrative by continuing to get its systems and institutions working while continuing to ensure favourable environment to supports dreams and visions.

According to him, solving the problem of the nation will  also require youths to get their focus right and fight right because every generation must identify its battles, fight and win it or be enslaved. 

(NAN)