Holy thieves!
Technocrats of destruction!
Heroes of doom!
Unworthy lips singing praises
Bound in corrosive war of hypocrisy
The stones with leaves and stick branches
Out in the street we cried
‘Free us!’

The bloody unjust battles
With bitter smiles of insincerity
You paraded the streets
Waving weak hands
Promised to fill our baskets with water

Happy we shall be shielded
From gravid clouds
But hidden from us
Are your futile hearts
Perforated with holes of selfishness
Enveloped by your skillful deceit
We smiled to our graves

Forgotten are the stones that made your pillar
Trampled upon by your boots of golden soles
Broken by the wheels of your German cars
Locked away in the gaol of uncertainty
Poisoned are our hopes
Our hands to the heavens we screamed
Oh Lord hear our cries
And free us amen

Alas another battle did come
It shall be free and fair they said
Votes will count they said
Results will be electronically uploaded they said
No avenue for rigging they said

We banked on their false assurances
We travelled home
The streets of every city on all continents felt our absence
We cast our votes in defiance
Amidst the terror of thugs
Whose destinies were bought with burnt bread
We cast our votes in defiance
Amidst the gnashing teeth of the Nigerian sun
And uninvited angry rains
Prayers and hopes
Prophesies and predictions
Wishes for what ought to be
For what should be
For a free and fair election
Enthroning the choice of the people
LP? ELLU P? HELP ME?

And those were lies!
Enemies of goodwill!
On whose throats good governance turns to gall
Billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money
As bribes to those who should protect our votes
Enemies of goodwill!
On whose throats good governance turns to gall

Vox populi vox Dei!
The voice of the people is the voice of God
We have chosen and this time
With spikes and clubs battle ready
We await my lords at court of law
Will they partner with the worshipers of doom?
Or harken to the call of justice?
Whichever path they ply
We have chosen and this time
With spikes and clubs battle ready

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo by Koshu Kunii on Unsplash