Dear Reader!

Dear Reader,

Can Nigeria be any more sadistic than it already is?
I really doubt it; with all this carnage that is fast booming into a rampage (really didn’t mean to rhyme).

Its August 2010, couple of days before September. Place of location is Akure town, the capital of Ondo State.

Problem?
Well the problem is that jejely on my own o, I was driving to work, so I get to a round-a-bout, and what do I see but Ębǫ.

What is Ębǫ?
Now, for those who have no idea what Ębǫ is, and for those who aren’t Yoruba movie fanatics, (not saying I am one o, truth is I make it my personal business to crucify most Nollywood movies, but that is another article entirely) Ębǫ is a Yoruba word used to define a sacrifice by people to gods (notice the small g?).
Anyway, most times the sacrifice consists of a black ceramic bowl with food like yam or eba, mixed with palm oil—or something of that sort. I don’t really know because I have never gotten too close to the bowl (yes, me sef fear am).
The deal is, the sacrifice is made to appease these gods, because, I’m guessing, some ignorant herbalist somewhere has said, “E lo se Étutu”.

Bullshit.
And I say that with all respect to human rights of religion, bla bla bla. This one though is blind stupidity and ignorance.
Do these gods come down to eat of this so-called delicacy? No. the sacrifice just gets eaten by some totally random mad man who has been starving for days.
These sacrifices that are placed in front of schools, market areas, hospitals, homes, shops, are fast gaining popularity among Yoruba people.

I used to think this was just some kind of thing that you’d see in a movie but never witness in reality, but here I am, a 19-year-old simple student, being made to eat my words. I feel like an atheist who is coming face to face with God.
Are people really still this way?
I can’t even get the sight out of my head.

It is sad, that Nigerians still believe in these doctrines?
When are we going to let go of barbaric acts?
And just so you know, this isn’t the first one I am seeing, so it is not like I am just making noise.
Plus this is just the tip of the iceberg that would eventually sink the ship called Nigeria.
I mean, as if we don’t have enough on our plate with our leaders being corrupt, strikes, and lack of proper education, we now also have to worry about blood sacrifices, rituals, and kidnappings by stupid ignorant people looking for a quick buck or looking to get even with someone.

I am tired.
I am tired of being inside my house when some Deji is being crowned and the whole town is on lockdown because they are looking for heads to sacrifice.
I am tired of rushing into my house at 6 o’clock in the evening because some people are hungry to kidnap.
I am tired.

I am concerned.
I am concerned for my cute baby brother who is only 3 months old and would have to grow up in this sadistic country.
I am concerned for my unborn children who would/might grow up in this country that lacks discipline.
I am concerned.

And I just want it all to end, because enough really is enough.
I might be just one voice out of 150million, but I have given you something to think about, so please think.
For us, for our future.





Signed,
A concerned citizen!

Green, and White, and Green!

The color of our nation; discarded,
Lost lessons never reprimanded,
And they know this—
Hollow oaths that gag us,
Secrets and lies control us.
Poor poor souls,
That need a reality check of their so-called leaders.
What reality check?
The one we already know and accept?
Don’t you know silence is acceptance?
And they force dumb muteness on us,
Carnage and ritualistic defiance of the unity our flag boasts of—
What unity?
If our forefathers could see,
They would spit the floor with phlegm colored disgust.
Even agriculture is taken from us,
The sugar we but is from a transcontinental land.
SUGAR!
Soon we would bring the white man’s sand,
And call ourselves industrialized.
What madness is this?
That a 19-year-old sees,
But fathers do not recognize?
They talk about education,
Ha! Education—
A man who cannot feed his son,
Knows not the way to wisdom.
And they push us—
Continually;
Persistently,
Till our stinging weather-beaten backs torch the wall,
Yet what do we do?
But crawl into a fetal ball,
And shiver.
Shame on you—
Who blames the leaders,
From the luxury of your feathered bed,
Shame on you—
Who sympathies with beggars,
As you eat of your tender tasty bread,
With a variety even,
Today egg,
Tomorrow the white man’s tea.
Betrayal is what it is,
By you,
By me.
We sit and do nothing,
Complaining; Gossiping; Writing even.
Talk is cheap my nation—
It does not buy the starved man a meal,
Green, and white, and green,
Belongs to all of us,
Not to neglect,
But to convene; Respect.
O! Give us peace,
Give us life,
Give us growth—
Give us tomorrow!