A few hours ago, a former INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega has made a comment about what patriotism means and his comment caused a stir on social media. 

It may interest you to know that Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega was born on January 11, 1957. He is a Nigerian academic and former Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano. However, on June 8, 2010, he was nominated by then President Goodluck Jonathan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 

As a matter of fact, his nomination was subject to Senate confirmation, as a replacement for Professor Maurice Iwu, who left the post on April 28, 2010.

Also, official report has it thatJega is the only INEC chairman to oversee two Nigerian General Elections (2011 and 2015). He retired on June 30, 2015, handing over his position to Amina Zakari according to a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Meanwhile, in his earlier tweet today, he made efforts to explained what it means to be patriot and what patriotism is. He pointed out that it’s not necessarily mean to stand by the president, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR and a foremost APC chieftains. 

He was quoted saying, “Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President.”