🇳🇬 “You Demonise Your Country and Expect Love Abroad — That’s Impossible,” Shehu Sani Blasts Nigerians Over Negative Self-Image

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has sparked a national conversation with a thought-provoking message to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, urging them to stop demonising their country while expecting admiration from the international community.

In a fiery Facebook post on Sunday, October 12, 2025, the outspoken activist and human rights advocate challenged Nigerians to reflect on the damaging effects of their constant criticism and self-deprecation, especially on global platforms.

According to Sani, many Nigerians are quick to express outrage when foreigners stereotype them as cybercriminals, drug smugglers, or fraudsters, yet these same individuals habitually broadcast only the negatives about their homeland.

> “Why do you feel bad when Emiratis call you a nation of drug smugglers and fraudsters when you don’t say good things about your country?” he asked pointedly.
“Why do you feel bad when Ghanaians chase you out of their country when you are the one telling the world how bad your country is?”

The former senator lamented that Nigeria’s image abroad continues to suffer because its citizens often take pride in tearing it down rather than uplifting it. He likened this behavior to insulting one’s own parents and still expecting others to respect them.

> “You insult your parents, spit on the graves of your ancestors and ancestral lands. You demonise your country. And you want to be loved by the citizens of other nations — that’s not possible,” Sani wrote.
“Everything you say about yourself becomes your identity and the impressions you create about yourself.”

Sani warned that this persistent negativity reinforces stereotypes that lead to visa denials, deportations, and discrimination against Nigerians abroad. He argued that the world mirrors the image Nigerians project about themselves — if they speak of their nation as corrupt or hopeless, that’s exactly how the world will see them.

He further noted that the hypocrisy extends beyond international perception. Within Nigeria, ethnic and religious divisions continue to deepen, with citizens showing little compassion or unity among themselves.

> “If we cannot treat one another with respect at home, it is unrealistic to expect the world to treat us differently,” he added.

Sani’s message concluded with a poignant reminder — that patriotism begins with speech, pride, and perspective.

> “If we keep saying our country is cursed, we shouldn’t be surprised when the world begins to believe it.”

His words have since ignited widespread debate on social media, with many Nigerians acknowledging the bitter truth in his message — that the fight for Nigeria’s global respect begins with Nigerians themselves.