Archbishop Josef Bassey, the Founding Pastor of God’s Heritage Global Mission has asserted that great nations are not built by politicians or military might but by patriots.

Bassey disclosed this on Friday in Calabar during a press conference which was as part of activities to mark his birthday and to introduce his Premier Cross River Destiny Awards, coming up on Oct. 2.

The awardees include, Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River, Chief Anthony Ani, former Minister of Finance; Prof. Kelvin Etta, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, and Mr Kanu Agabi, a legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The archbishop, also the Chairman, Council of Cross River’s Christian Leaders Forum, said nations were developed by people who loved their lands enough to lay down their lives for it and its people.

He said if that was not in place in a nation, such nation had nothing in place, adding that having the best brains and wonderful politicians without patriots would take a nation nowhere.

“So until we begin to celebrate patriotism, sacrifices and selfless contributions made by some individuals, more people would see no need of travelling that path of patriotism.

“The Premier Cross River Destiny Awards on Oct. 2 is an event where we will celebrate basically four of such people whose patriotism and selflessness have contributed in shaping the destiny of the state.

“The second part is that we want to immortalise the sacrifices of these patriots and inspire generations in a time when people are only concerned about self and not the collective destiny of the nation,” he said.

Bassey noted that great men should not only be honoured with glowing tributes when they were no more but be celebrated as champions and heroes for their selfless and patriotic deeds while they were still alive.

 On the state of the nation, the cleric said Nigeria would change its narrative by continuing to get its systems and institutions working while continuing to ensure favourable environment to supports dreams and visions.

According to him, solving the problem of the nation will  also require the youths to get their focus right and fight right because every generation must identify its battles, fight and win it or be enslaved.