Independence Day: Our Hope is On the Embers

It would have been weird if it came up after the first day of this month; merging the wishes of a new month with our country's birthday is where the fun lies. What can we say? Nigeria is 64 years old. As time passes, we hope to see change farther from mere manifesto promises beginning with individual citizens.

It's October, a day to remember; we keep on fanning the embers, hoping to see them glow to become a fire hotter to cook our half-done meals. We are yet undone; we are still grinding; we are but 64; we can't let down our heritage or who will help us fan the embers.

The great giant of Africa won't ever become an ant; a single person can never be called a people, so we cannot let a single person drag us to the dust; governance is just a single person; we still have people's names: victory, power, hope, success, strength, eagle, and if we join the forces together, a great, indestructible nation we will build.

I don't want to speak of governance because reflecting is like rechecking the recent plays in the game of chess after losing; the score remains, and the only way to top the list is to beat, to overtake, but it lies in how many rounds you are ready to play; if you don't lose strength, then you will win. We will win, only the strong and persistent; a win for one is a win for all. I ask myself, many have won, but it hasn't affected all. Then I knew the problem here is governance.

At 64, we celebrate; what have we achieved? Plenty of things stocked up in the salaries of high-class men who claim to be running a democratic government whose definition is meaningless; we didn't put you in place; how can we displace you? I wish it was possible.

After going out today to see how far I can take weeds on my pumpkin garden, I made the first part of the publication, I mean the one after this statement, then I had a little bed rest and I heard a sentence resonate in my dream; it was spoken clearly, and I woke and thought so much about it. It says, Why is the government called the government of the people when it cannot take of the people, a government of the people, and yet not all people but selective? Is it still a democracy?

Despite the toil and turmoil, we remain strong. It is said that hardship brings about innovation, and our youth are trying. Many are hitting hard on content creation on Web 2 platforms because, certainly, the government cannot pay us. We burn nights, we study, and I believe if we hit harder, we will achieve greater things in a few years. We will now have a ground to be able to change this government.

It was Independence Day; it was a protest day; many went out to protest; rice is now 100,000 per 50 kg bag, and petrol is approximately N2000 per litre. My mom couldn't come back home this week from work because she is preserving her fuel to transport herself to her workplace the following week; maybe when the next salary comes she will be back. Imagine salaries are not even enough to fend for our needs; worst comes to worst if you are working for the private sector.

I didn't forget to eat my vegetable rice that looks like our flag colour. Green, white, green.

Each time I want to pray, I feel bad governance is pulling me off my feet, making my supplication seem like a waste, notwithstanding making my renditions, and I believe a better day is coming for me and for all who advocate for change. Amen

#hopeforthefuture #independence