The former senator says selective patriotism reflects a “green card mentality” and deep-seated inferiority complex.

Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has criticised Nigerians for what he describes as selective patriotism, noting that national unity often appears only when criticism comes from fellow Africans.

According to Sani, Nigerians are quick to unite and fiercely defend their country whenever Africans mock or criticise them, portraying a strong sense of national pride and solidarity.

However, he observed that the reaction is noticeably different when criticism comes from Americans. In such cases, only a handful of Nigerians push back, while many others either remain silent or openly endorse the foreign criticism.

Sani described this attitude as a troubling behavioural pattern rooted in what he called “green card sycophancy,” subservience, and an ingrained inferiority mentality toward Western nations.

He warned that true patriotism should be consistent and not dependent on who is doing the criticising, urging Nigerians to confront internalised biases that undermine national self-respect.