"Weep, Nigeria": A Poetic Outcry Against Corruption, Violence, and Injustice
The social media poem (WHATSAPP), "Weep, Nigeria," is a powerful indictment of the current state of the nation, resonating deeply with the frustrations and anger of many Nigerians who feel abandoned by their government. The poem masterfully uses the motif of weeping to encapsulate the nation's collective sorrow and suffering. It highlights the stark contrast between the government's priorities and the plight of its citizens. The declaration of a state of emergency for damaged oil pipelines while ignoring the massacres in Benue, the losses in Borno, and the banditry in Sokoto and Zamfara is a scathing critique of the government's callous disregard for human life. The prioritization of oil profits over human lives, as poignantly asked, "Is oil thicker than blood?", strikes a chord with those who witness the government's inaction in the face of widespread violence and suffering.
The poem also correctly points out the corruption and dysfunction within the Nigerian political system. The internal conflicts within the Lagos Assembly and the Senate, rife with greed, sexual harassment, and impunity, paint a picture of a leadership class more concerned with self-enrichment than with the welfare of the people. The "sit-at-home" protests in the East highlight the government’s inability or unwillingness to address the root causes of unrest, further emphasizing the disconnect between the rulers and the ruled. The president's perceived apathy and the use of the judiciary as a tool for settling personal scores instead of upholding justice deepen the sense of despair. The poem effectively portrays the president as an emperor, detached from the suffering of his people and unmoved by their pleas.
The way forward, as suggested by the poem's concluding lines, lies in the "awakening of the people." The poem doesn't offer concrete solutions, but it implicitly calls for a fundamental shift in power dynamics. Nigerians must rise above their despair and channel their collective anger into meaningful resistance. This could involve sustained civic engagement, demanding accountability from their leaders, advocating for institutional reforms, and actively participating in the democratic process to elect leaders who truly represent their interests. The poem suggests that the tears of the oppressed will nourish the seeds of resistance, ultimately leading to a day of reckoning where justice prevails.
The president's introspection, as suggested by the prompt, is crucial. He should not only acknowledge the poem’s devastating assessment but also engage in genuine dialogue with the people, listening to their grievances and working collaboratively to find sustainable solutions. Ignoring the poem's message is to ignore the reality of a nation in crisis, a nation crying out for change and genuine leadership. A fundamental shift towards inclusive governance, prioritizing human lives and welfare over economic interests, and ensuring justice for all citizens is the only path towards healing the deep wounds of Nigeria.
Below Is The Poem On Social media 》》
*Weep, Nigeria*
Weep, Nigeria—
For the soil is heavy with blood,
And the sky hangs low with despair.
A land where godfathers pull strings in dark rooms,
Turning the law into a puppet on fraying threads.
In Rivers, a pipeline is breached,
And in the blink of an eye—State of Emergency!
Yet where is this urgency
For the lives buried in Benue’s fields?
For the soldiers fallen in Borno’s sands?
For Sokoto and Zamfara’s crimson dust,
Where bandits write their will in blood?
Weep for Rivers State,
Where politics wears the face of tyranny,
And the Constitution trembles at the sound of ambition.
A state of emergency declared in haste,
Not for lives lost,
But for pipelines broken.
Is oil thicker than blood?
Is property dearer than life?
Weep for Benue’s farmers,
Cut down where they stood—
Machetes singing death into the soil,
While the earth drinks deeply of their pain.
Weep for the soldiers of Borno,
Whose boots march into battle,
But never return home.
And for Sokoto and Zamfara,
Where the fields bloom with graves,
And the wail of widows is the only anthem.
Weep for Lagos,
Where the Assembly turns into a theater of shame—
Two speakers, two gavels,
And one house split by greed.
They mutiny and install each other,
Turning the halls of governance
Into a marketplace of ambition.
If leaders cannot lead,
Then who shall steer the ship?
Weep for the Senate,
Where the halls of power stink of shame.
Where hands meant to pass laws
Instead reach where they should not.
Sexual harassment plays out on the nation’s stage,
And the people watch in disgust—
A spectacle of impunity.
Weep for the East,
Where Mondays bring silence,
Not by choice but by fear.
Where the streets are empty,
And freedom is held hostage.
The sit-at-home echoes louder
Than the government’s voice,
Yet where is the state of emergency here?
Is the pain of the people so easily ignored?
Oh Nigeria,
How many wounds will you bear before you break?
How many tears must wet the ground
Before justice rises from the soil?
They kill our sons,
They bury our daughters,
And in the corridors of power,
They laugh.
Yet we weep not in defeat,
But in fury.
For the tears of the oppressed
Water the tree of resistance.
And though they declare emergencies
Only where it suits their greed,
The true emergency is the awakening of the people.
Weep, Nigeria—
But not for long.
For dawn is coming,
And the day of reckoning is near.
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