18 Nov Our Country Nigeria
Our Country Nigeria
by Olajesu Kolawale 
I Woke up one summer morning
So little and tender was I,
A baby, you could call it,
But growing up it was.
A nursery pupil, the little me was
And as it came to be,
“This is Nigeria”, was what I was told
And within no time…, The little me
Turned out reciting ‘State and capital‘ with other children,
‘Arise O compatriots‘ became our early morning song!
Pledging to Nigeria my country, became a thing of joy…,
The nursery song;
‘Green white green, beautiful Nigeria flag’
Became our favourite refrain song!
Oh, that was the Nigeria of yesterday!
Just as I was the little kid of yesterday
Our country Nigeria…,
What has thou grown to be?!
How does thou turn to this?!
We are independent, we say;
But corruption and social prejudice
Have become the order of the day!
Actual FREEDOM has become a thing of HOPE
Rather than a thing of NOW to enjoy.
We are independent, we say;
Yet, here we are,
Stocked in the shackles of self-oppression,
Chained in the jail of social resentment,
And sentenced to the prison of social discrimination!
Our country Nigeria…,
What has thou grown to be?!
How does thou turn to this?!
Our children no longer find joy
In the early morning song.
Rather, they wake up to tiredly say;
“I wished there wasn’t school today.”
Even the youths now wished
They weren’t born on this land!
And the elders hardly see the future in you!
But still…, We hope,
We hope for a better tomorrow!
A better Nigeria…,
The true Giant of Africa!
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