A Wake-Up Call: Nigeria vs. Burkina Faso – Don’t Let Bitterness Blind Us

 Last week, on December 8, a Nigerian Air Force C-130 plane en route to Portugal for maintenance hit a snag mid-flight and made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

What started as a routine safety call turned tense: Burkina Faso detained 11 Nigerian troops, suspecting espionage amid their anti-French stance and suspicions of the plane’s surveillance gear.  Diplomatic talks dragged on for days, with our soldiers in limbo, until their release on December 10 a relief, but a stark reminder of how fragile West African ties can snap.

Tinubu and Taore

Yet, in the heat of X (formerly Twitter), I’ve seen brothers and sisters everyday Naija folks hustling through fuel queues and naira woes twist this into a weapon against Tinubu’s government. “Let Burkina hold them; serves this admin right!” some vent, cheering a neighbor’s jab at our flag like it’s payback for bad governance.  Others hype Burkina’s junta as heroes, ignoring that those 11 soldiers aren’t APC card carrying spies they’re our boys, sons of soil from Kaduna to Calabar, risking it all in a uniform that outlasts any president.

Here’s the relatable gut-check: Yeah, Tinubu’s crew has fumbled economy biting harder than ever, promises feeling like jollof without spice. We’re mad, and we should be; demand better, protest, vote smarter. But wishing Nigeria low because one man sits in Aso Rock? Nah. Tinubu no own Naija.

We built this giant before his Jagaban days, and we’ll rebuild after with or without him. That green-white-green flew proud under Gowon, Shagari, even Abacha’s iron fist. It’s us, not him.

Patriotism isn’t blind loyalty to leaders; it’s fierce love for the 200 million dreamers grinding from Lagos markets to Jos farms.

Next time Burkina (or anyone) tests us, let’s rally for Nigeria not against our own shadows. Our soldiers came home; now let’s bring that same unity home. Naija no dey carry last.