THE ANTHEM’S BETRAYAL The Nigerian constitutions have been amended several times; but none seems to remember that our national anthem also needs to be amended. The anthems first stanza has fallen short of hope. The glory it communicate has dampened, because none of it verses seems to be in conformity with the state of development of our crying nation. Our dear Nigeria has turned to be an unfortunate one, for its inhabitants. A place of regrets, for its citizens and an un-compoundable biome for its Populace. A nation that has nothing doing; but busy drying the sweat of its founding- fathers. A nation where some [people] in the position of leadership can neither spell the word LEADER nor can they pronounce its elementary spellings! I wonder if their likes were the founding-icons, it will definitely be unrealistic to say “we would be free from the British-rule”, by now. Greediness, self-interest and ungodly behaviors will lead us no-where, but they perceive not. Periodically; schools springs up in the nook and cranny of the country, there- by increasing the daily recital of our melodious anthem! But coming as a shocker! Its words decreases in value and seems to be of no relevance. Taking a walk-through, a school-street in our country at about 7:45am: what is it, that the kids stand attention to recites? “Arise o compatriots. Nigeria call obey. To serve our father-land, With love and strength and faith. The labour of our heroes past, Shall never be in vain. To serve with heart and might, One nation bound in freedom, Peace and unity.” How interesting and fascinating, its melodic-tune runs through my mind. How ashamed will its composers be, if livingly; they still exist! This daily chorus that strikes my mind at dawn, the early hours of the day produces so many unanswered questions. “Are people, still arising to the call of Nigeria?” probably, people think standing up to contest an Election is meant by the saying of Nigeria’s “Arise o compatriots.” NEVER! It’s only calling ALL to stand to defend her, in all manners of its cultural heritage, useful management of it abundance resources, in the educating of its seeds, young-kids and lot more. It’s a pity that no one is ready to stand or to move an inch! How much-more arising to its needs, THE CALL! To be frank on the state of Nigeria’s culture, none seems to promote it! Rather, all seems to be demoting it! In a country of ours, where the good and bad culture of our colonists and their likes are cherished but ours has been thrown away with the birth-water! Lack of good management system in all sectors of the country has kept us in the wood; because it seems some in power couldn’t manage their homes, let alone managing a whole Nation. Concerning Education; it has been sick age-long and its Doctor seems unborn! Another arising question on the anthem falls on the 5th line. “Are the labors of our past heroes not in vain?!” it seems everyone would be able to give a genuine answer to this. And if I’m not bias, I would say “it’s almost in vain!” A country that its founding- fathers had hoped for a day, when it would be completely-free, from the British rule and would stand out to be the giant of Africa! Lets take CUBA for example, a country in the past looking forward to be like Nigeria, but now in all ramifications; it cannot be compared with ours. Trying to be enslaved back by our colonist is all we do, by the latent embracement we show! The only condition that makes the labour of our heroes completely not in vain is that; we are still celebrating our OCTOBER first independent day and nothing more! Let’s crawl into another question and stop wallowing in the latter. “Are people serving the nation with their heart and might?” if this could be placed on an opinion poll; definitely, we would have more ‘NO’ than ‘YES’: to the downtrodden mass; it’s a “NO” but as for those in power, a capital “YES”; if not, “why are they in power” would be the question! How horrible it sounds, when people [those in powers] complete their terms in office and are taken up for trials by the E.F.C.C group. How sadden it is, that some of trailed victims ends to be on jail-terms. How many of these people can we count, up to this moment- a long list of them! “to serve our father-land” says the anthem; but how many people regards NIGERIA has its father-land?! Believing that, if one needs to purchase a land on his father-land then, it worth not calling A FATHER-LAND! This is saddened because; NIGERIA “our heritage” was the sayings of our past predecessors. Capping it all, the 8th and 9th line says “one Nation bound in freedom, peace and unity”, so I ask! “Are we living in peace? What about in unity?! The answers aren’t far fetch. All these ever increasing problems debarring the state of development of our Nation can only be tackled by going in accordance with what I’ve tried listing in my National Development Poem; that goes thus: “No nation dares develops, When it’s filled with fault and gallops. Cos what people call, development, Is a process of many Requirements.” “For a nation grows, As good idea flows. But falls, Due to peoples faults” “Principal requirement For a nation’s development, Is the government By the ballot enhancement” “But, for a nation Using selection, Instead of election Will, surely fall, into corruption.” “If in law, all are abided Then in fear will be the Elected For all his works, will then be intact In order, not to be, kicked out”. “If a nation lacks security Then citizens’ life will have no priority. For all may one day be destroyed? Without a place or soul spared.” “Education Is the best recreation One could give a nation, To be out of its, undeveloped motion.” “Progress won’t be noticed, When errors, arent corrected. Cos progress Goes with people’s congress” “Job creation Is an asset of a nation Cos the devil, uses The idle vessels.” “A nation ruling without Gods will Then in failure will they Be. For gods own will, Is the success key” “Fighting corruption With many action Builds nothing, but strong foundation. For a corrupt-free nation” “So, let no mind be undermined As a journey of steps, begins with one. So let’s join hands, to build our nation. For our nation, will one day shine!!!” The great inspirational work of those, who wrote the anthem can no one toy; for it seems the present but then-future of Nigeria, has been sighted in a vision before the composition of its second stanza; that reads: “O God of creation, direct our noble course. Guide thou our leaders right. Help our youth the truth to know. In love and honesty to grow, And living just and true. Great lofty height attain, To build the nation where peace and Justice shall reign,” Of all these; that had been directed to God by the writers in the second stanza, which of them is yet to eat into the heart of our Nation? – NONE! “Are our leaders going by the will of GOD?” if yes, HOW?! “Are the young one taught the truth by our bad leadership? “Are we living in love, honesty, justice and in truth? The only reproach “to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign” as the line seven and eight reads; is by saying “amen” to the second stanza’s prayer and work to achieve this notion because faith but no work is worthless! Our hopes on the development of Nigeria aren’t lost, because they were only stolen by some greedy leaders in power. “So, let’s join hands to build our Nation, for our nation will one day SHINE!!!”
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 08:06:06 +0000
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