I am delighted to present to you this guest post that captures so eloquently our collective hope that Nigeria will become as great as she is supposed to. This hope which has become a transgenerational feature of our families, was masterfully conveyed by the poet through the disillusionment he painted in the contradictions between our national pledge and our grim reality.

It’s a very moving piece and it echoed my mood recently. I’ve felt like saying, “Nigeria will be better,” but I feel she should have been already. So I guess we should say, “Nigeria don better!” in faith and, by God’s grace, we shall see it come to pass.

Kindly drop your impressions of the poem in “Comments” and share the piece widely on social media. We need as much hope as we can garner at this depressing time in our nation’s history.

Kudos to you, Recluse! This piece is awesome! I pray for more inspiration in your writing and greater recognition for your output. You’re going places in Jesus’ name.

Nigeria Will Be Better

…what grandpa said to dad,
And dad said to me;
Guess I’ll say the same,
To my unborn children.
I’ve pledged to Nigeria my country,
To be faithful, loyal and honest,
But my country ain’t a beautiful host;
It’s a desert that makes me grunt.
The labour of our heroes past,
Is today becoming vain,
Because the leaders of now
Are only mindful
Of their state of wealth,
Not of the peace
Of those they lead,
So we’ve become savages
Ambushed from the north…
The south-east agitates to go;
The south-west waits to take sides.
I’ve served with love and might,
In a nation said to be bound in freedom,
But it’s not so anymore –
We’re trapped under the feet
Of those who say they care for us,
Like a rat will bite his victim
And blow it cool;
Not because he cares
Nor because he feels sorry,
But so he could bite more.
We’re men who brood of hunger
And watch our brothers die of thirst,
And yet we kill one another
To uplift those who divide us –
We say we’re giants of Africa,
But we behave like none;
We’re wise men becoming fools.
We have a country rich,
But we live in one poorer
Than a beggar –
At least he goes home with little,
Not like us who get nothing
From the much we have.
“Nigeria will be better,”
I wish I won’t say to my son,
And if so I do,
I hope he won’t say to his.

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(Related: Naija Will Rise Again)
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About the Writer:
Oluwaseunfunmi Recluse is a second-year student of the Mass Communication Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. As this piece shows, he has a flair for writing poetry. He also engages in writing stories of various kinds. He is a smart and amiable young man and can be reached on Facebook.

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