Nigeria Independence Day 2022: A Poem

Today, Nigeria is 62
And I don’t know what to do.
What is there to celebrate?
Look, poverty smells everywhere.
My people are suffering
And smiling
And celebrating
But bleeding deep inside.

Oh, what an irony!
Blessed but still poor.
Many dealers but few leaders.
Many words but few actions.
Many promises but few fulfilments.

Oh Nigeria,
No longer the giant
Of Africa;
Now the beggar
Of Africa.
Can we be proud
Of this country
As it is now?
Oh Nigeria,
I weep for you
Because of the blood
Of the innocent
Spilled on your soil
Like water.
In this country
There is no value
For human life.
Oh, stop the senseless
Killings and let kindness
Lead.

I still believe
Nigeria can rise again
From the dust of corruption
To the mountain of perfection.
Yes, I, Isaiah Ogedegbe,
Still hope in a better
Future for Nigeria.

Please pray for the President
And the citizens too.
We don’t want war
And peace is what we need.