Home NEWS Auto Draft

Auto Draft

by Bioreports
33 views
auto-draft

As the generators went off one after the other, the night grew quieter until it was cuddled in tranquility. The neighborhood snoozed, while the watchmen kept watch under the cover of the dark skies. The serene night was almost perfect, except for the chirping chorus of nocturnal birds and crickets. The pendulum clock, which has survived four generations, chimed to ring in 11 pm.

The silent night pampers one’s mind to spontaneously reflect and ponder on life, living and legacy.

This nation, we are wont to believe, was simply a British contraption, a forced and unfortunate marriage between the Northern Protectorate and its Southern counterpart. Rather, we choose to believe with every conviction that Nigeria, the pride of the Black race, came to be by a Divine order, far and above any Western arrangement.

That divine instrumentality is what gives us, Nigerians, that distinct and distinctive identity in any part of the world we find ourselves. From the Sahel to the creeks, coast to coastlines, hills to plains, forests to islands, Nigeria is nothing short of nature’s gift to the world.

Sadly, for more than six decades and still counting, Nigeria as a nation has been grappling with existential threats from within, and developmental challenges which have continued to impede growth, development, peace and unity.

The Nigeria’s vision, handed down from one generation to generation to build on the foundation of one nation indivisible under God, now rests on the shoulders of the current crop of leaders, and citizens alike. Our responsibility is to not only bear the torch, but also pass it on to the next generation, better, stronger, greater and bigger than we received it.

And thence comes our anxiety – a state of being nervy – giving rise to endless worries on whether we would be able to meet and even exceed those expectations. Though restless, still confident in God; although anxious, yet careful in prayer.

Would the Nigeria’s vision handed to us by our predecessors vanish like a mirage, in our time? Ọlọrun maje! Allah ya kiyaye!

Would this work of advancing the frontiers of Nigeria in all its ramifications, be abandoned in our time? ‘Shekwo ta’ yeñ! Oghuefia!

Would this Union of peace-loving, united and God-fearing people, that is fast losing its pride of place in the comity of nations, disintegrate in our generation? Owoicho ta!

Would this mandate and assignment, handed to us by our forbearers, to realize the potentials of Nigeria towards a prosperous future, end in our time? Chukwu ekwekwa!

Whether you are an elected official or private citizen, private sector worker or civil servant, young or old, this vision, the Nigeria’s vision must not and should never die in our time. This Union must never break up in our time. This work must not be abandoned in our time. This assignment must never fail nor falter in our time.

To those who believed we were bequeathed a broken system, a divided and fractured house, please do well to inform them we shall leave behind a better system built on the foundations of justice and equity. Tell it to the plains and mountains that we shall unite this nation. Declare it on the streets that we shall heal our land. We shall usher in a new season of prosperity.

Let’s continue to be patriotic in duty and altruistic in service, and together, we shall bring Nigeria closer to a more perfect, egalitarian and equitable nation.

As I reflect on these things, the somber voice of the uncelebrated singer can be heard in the distant unknown, each rising note an intense expression of conviction, and each falling note a feeling of anxiety.

ọrụ a ọ ga-akwụsị n’oge m

ọrụ a ọ ga-agbasasị n’aka m.

ọrụ a, ọ ga-eru aka m, wee kwụsị? God forbid!

The buzzing noise of angry and blood-thirsty mosquitoes woke me up from my reverie. I looked at the time; it was 12:00hrs. The hope of dawn.

Ekene S. Imelikachi

Epic Pen, the Cicero of Pmagbe Community

@EkeneImelikachi

You may also like

Leave a Comment