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The Ticket to Soar Photo Credit: https://aviaryrecoverycenter.com/let-it-go/ Blue sky above, grey clouds below, Yet I feel trapped in a place where I do not want to go. Dry sky above, jagged rocks below, I am falling to a place where I do not want to go. How do I break free? How do I grow? How do I transcend this now and glow? Their reflexes have forced us to our knees. Warmth and peace has faded to a place that isn’t is. They lie all day, no sign of going back, Right has rotted to the point of being one - same with left. How do we break free? How do we grow? How do we transcend this now and glow o? Basic things are ignored. They’re losing easy grounds. So, we’re free-falling, sinking to a place of no sensation. Choices must be made; the right action must be taken. So, we know right now, présent we would have done our all and all. How do you break free? How do you grow? How do you transcend this now and glow o o? Let your conscience remain your l...

Long Live Nigeria Long live Nigeria! Our caretakers provisionally value us. Should we return the favour? They loot our silver to fortify their houses but act like our saviour. O! I dread the day when more death hawk-ers will come to prey. My home was porous yesterday and bleeding profusely today. Long live Nigeria! Today I take responsibility         for my fate.      I will achieve for me       and not delegate. Today I break the routine           and close that chapter.      No more dopamine         from fake laughter. Long live Nigeria! Where is the architect capable of transforming idea to design? I must increase my worth. No one should stall what is mine. I will build myself to convert brilliant plans to reality. I stand tall and proud; aware of my new identity. Long live Nigeria! Today I take responsibility    ...

Green or Grey Nigeria Photo Credit: https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-tree-growing-old-dead-dying-rotted-tree-image-symbolizes-rebirth-reborn-new-birth-overcoming-obstacles-image68357891 She was once proud, the home of gods and royalty. Now, people under her care depend on charity. If they are not displaced, they live in fear. Conflict up North, robbery down South. Terrorism coated with religious biases, And armed with ethnic prejudices. Who will paint her vibrant green white and green? True peace will not remain an elusive dream. Nightmares will not hunt me if I stay awake. I may be slow but I am far from weak. She has become drier than the Atacama Desert. Water and life only appear as mirages. She has become like quicksand. Struggle and go down faster. Fight the wind at your peril. To your ever-sure doom. Who will paint her vibrant green white and green? Poverty cannot continue to reign supreme. To me, 'dawn' is but minutes away. Alive! ...

Democracy, Elections and Nigeria: Problems and Way Forward (1) Continued from previous post on democracy and elections Can cosmetics help me to hide my ulterior intents? Everyone sees right through me. Domage! Maybe, I need a better make-up kit. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that as at 2015, the proportion of Nigerian children (aged 15 and lower) was more than twice the percentage of adults and elderly combined [7] . Children and youths make a significant chunk of the population, as such, the impact of manipulations of under-aged voting is astronomical. During the 2015 general elections, it was argued that under-aged voters participated and cast votes. Recently in Kano, there were complaints that under-aged voters (voters below the 18-year-old cut off), participated in elections and skewed the outcome of the State’s council elections. Some persons even insisted that INEC officials colluded to escalate this illegal practice. This is being investigate...

Democracy, Elections and Nigeria: Problems and Way Forward (1) You have given me the power to make and unmake.  Go to sleep, I will decide on your behalf.  The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (now amended), states that “the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice... It … declared that: (a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority; (b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and (c) the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution” [1] . Building on this knowledge, can citizens confidently say that their intentions would naturally shape their leadership in Nigeria? Has Nigeria been experiencing true democracy only on paper? Has our form of democracy been diluted to emasculate citizens...

What the Future Could Be They take three steps forward but hundreds backwards. A vicious cycle, Sinking us to penury. Three right actions, many wrong. A plaguing vehicle, Birthing daydreams of times long gone. Gideon lives in the past, the perfect yesterdays. When he believes honest leaders were countless. And officials were not endlessly self-centred. Maybe, he lives in an era that never existed. Three steps forward, hundreds backwards. His world is in chaos, When he hears about Death's meals. Strangers are gone, loved ones are heaped. Meaningless slaughter, Nursing daydreams of the good old days. Fatima longs for the past. Blissful former times. It was rare to witness 'no conscience'. Visitors valued locals and their friendliness. Maybe, she craves an era that never existed. Three steps forward, hundreds backwards. They long for yesterdays, Which shouldn't be. Maybe the regression will come to an end, If they do not stay, Where man...

We Own the Crown Credit: http://clipart-library.com/crown-cliparts.html Every day we sing praises to our kith and kin Our local leaders, who seem to have no sin Brothers of before, but cruel gods of now How did we get to this point? Na juju? We cherish their tight-fisted charity They give us peanut and we reflexively ‘jaiye’. The remaining gold, they freely plunder Unwillingly given. But who can question them? Wake up! We have refused to recognise dishonesty Even from hypocrites in authority Who sandwich deceit in piety When will we see people as they are? We rather blame others for our demise Those whose crime is that they are not ‘one of us’ Countrymen or not, we can’t but despise Rioting cancer. Is there no cure to this virus? Wake up! “This country will never improve". A passive man's mantra We complain unending but do nothing “Our opinions do not count”. Another blasphemy! Eternally indifferent. No will to act. Na so common sense dey sc...

Nigeria Wake Up Credit: http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ctv-morning-live/wake-up-call They come to us in times of election But flee from us afterwards as though we have infection Excuses are their steady companion Devious so we resolve with prayer but no action Wake up my people! Their mistakes have become law They are always never listening Stolen wealth, they gladly harbour Only sweet doom is beckoning Wake up! The condition of ‘before’ is clearly not the same as ‘now’ Yet they stick to an unending doctrine of lies and tricks Night and day, eternal pain, our future has been strangled bleak Yet they dare to flaunt their elegant crown so everyone would bow Wake up Nigeria! Do we have recurring amnesia? Or we want to sleep and not wake? Is the solution always militia? Why must we allow them to take our cake? Wake up! Remember who you are for Nigeria’s sake Citizens. Born royalty Renowned bedrock of any society With the power to make and unmake U...