Abuja — The United States has always watched and found Nigeria to be a country of interest for several reasons but had not listed her in anyway.

It is just that this time around the interest has shifted to destructive patterns of events that threaten the unity of the country, the stability of the sub-region and most important, its strategic interest in Nigeria. If we think that listing Nigeria as a country of interest is all that there is, then we've got it all wrong. It goes beyond Farouk AbdulMutallab and his self-delusion. Nigerians should find it within themselves to look beyond the current challenge that presents itself in the form of a tree-for-the-forest syndrome.

I am pretty sure the US understands that Nigeria is not a terrorist breeding ground and that is why I join others in saying that it is unfair to lump Nigeria with other countries that undergo dehumanizing searches and interrogations just because of one attempted act of terrorism. The arguments have been presented severally and none makes little the kind of devastation that would have occurred if Farouk had succeeded in his dastardly act. We may have our internal contrarieties but not enough to vent on other countries; otherwise the several decades of cordial relationship enjoyed by both countries would have been damaged long time ago.

It is also important to note that aside the many cooperative roles Nigeria has played alongside the US in furthering some of its foreign policies, close to 30,000 Americans live and work in Nigeria. That number does not include Nigerians with dual citizenship. Bring out the statistics and you will find that the percentage of Americans who have been abducted, maimed or maltreated here in Nigeria is minuscule if any at all. To drive home my point, Nigeria recently hosted the FIFA Under17 World Cup. America did not only participate in the 22-day tournament, but its 21-man team plus a handful of officials were hosted in the core of the Muslim north in a city called Kano. Add to that the several Americans resident in the country who came out each time to the stadium. There was not one incident or report of threat to the Americans (by the way this success in security was recorded at all venues throughout the competition). Instead, the Americans enjoyed the hospitality and support of the good people of Kano. Would the US have tried this in any of the other countries of interest? I doubt.

Majority of Nigerians have a right to be upset and justifiably so. It is however instructive to break this down and see where the US is coming from and this means looking inwards. The house Nigeria built is not in order. America fears it will crumble and if nothing is done, vagabonds will reign. They understand the implications of having another failed state on their hands.

One does not need to go far in history to see the extremism amongst the so called religious holier-than-thou leaders and followers on both sides of the Muslim and Christian divide. The signs were there before the Maitatsine insurrection in 1980. Several other uprisings have taken place ever since. A few months ago it was Boko Haram and now it is the Jos mayhem. Some scholars have opined that these clashes are not driven by religion but are spin offs of illiteracy, unemployment and poverty. I tend to agree because I have schooled and lived among people with differing faiths and I have not experienced any faith- driven incidents of rancor. There are countless instances of leaders manipulating the have-nots for their political and egotistic objectives.

How did these faceless 'leaders' assume such positions and infiltrate the vulnerable? They did not just drop from outer space. They grew and were fed in this same system we are in. What makes them different is that they were fed with the wrong education and information while those who knew better - the watchdogs, plugged their ears and became preoccupied with watching their bank accounts.

The a watch dog has been feeding fat on unacceptable behavior and vices and has gone complacent, it does not even bark neither does it growl at despicable conducts, as far as it is concerned, that is the way it has been and that is the way it will always be.

If the watchdogs had ensured credible leadership over the years these instances would not be common because there would have been the right education for our teeming population and the likes of Abdulmutallab will not have had the need to seek education abroad.

Nigeria faces a defining moment. On the face of it, the current state of the federation presents what appears to be a stack of irredeemable challenges. On the flip side, it offers the golden opportunity for a renaissance and a rebirth which will restore it self confidence and pride of place in world affairs.

The security and political intrigues at the close of the year and beginning of this one have suddenly awoken the patriotism in Nigerians (whether they argue for or against). The sheer unison in the actions of watchdogs, which hitherto were asleep, lends credence to the argument that Nigeria will survive. This sense of responsibility, patriotism and revival of moral character, is what Prof. Dora Akunyili's rebranding campaign has harped on over and over again. There is therefore hope for Nigeria.

Besides this new found voice, the following unifiers point to the fact that most Nigerians still love their country.

First, is that no matter where they are, be it here or overseas, majority still answer to the name Nigeria. The national anthem and flag still appeal to their sense of allegiance.

Secondly, as Nigerians, another unifier is when the national sports teams are participating in international tournaments. Patriotism rises to fever pitch and for that moment or period, the economic and social assailants to their individual well being or collective existence are relegated to the back ground or even forgotten completely. Nigerians are pretty good at forgiving and forgetting when the going gets good. This is partly what defines them as a happy people. They love merry making and proving that their needs are not necessarily financial. They relish the next opportunity to spread the largesse. In a way, it is part of their existence and a major component of their culture and traditions. You needn't go far to prove this. Just wait till Christmas, Salah period, any traditional festival or when the next contract is sealed to see who is 'declaring surpluses' for his or her kinsmen.

They are fundamentally good people in love with life and rarely will associate with activities that threaten the real feel for enjoyment. However, the realities of the times beckon and spring forth a path to seriousness.

Listing Nigeria as a country of interest has bitten the tail of the watchdog. While the US in that regard has stated its point, Nigerians all over the world have made their protest known. As Nigeria turns 50, the next step is to channel the hues and cries inwards such that the bad eggs considered to be brand eroders are overwhelmed or weeded out.

In 2005, Nigeria was removed from the list of countries that served as a hub for drug trafficking. Nigerians through the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) stepped up their fight against drug traffickers and have maintained it till today.

In my own opinion, Nigeria will be delisted sooner than later. But the sooner it puts its house in order, the sooner the pain and humiliations will be a thing of the past.