If you are Nigerian, odds are you finished singing the line. Not because it’s the #1 song on your playlist but because the words to our national anthem flow through your veins. You are Nigeria and Nigeria is you.
The words to that first verse evoke a sense of solidarity, reminiscence, honor, and the pride that we proudly boast. Every October 1, you can find someone screaming these words, but I guarantee that you will not hear the words “Oh God of creation…” In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find someone that knows the second verse by heart, but my fellow Nigerians, I tell you today that those words have never rang truer than they do today. You cannot find better words to describe the battle that Nigerian youth are fighting today to bring an end to SARS/SWAT and the vision we have for our great country.
Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause. We have seen protests before come and go, but there is something unique about this one.A generation that was labelled “lazy youths,” “spoilt millennials,” and “Indomie generation” has joined forces to cry out against police brutality, among other things, and is now millions strong across not only Nigeria, but throughout the diaspora.
If this is not a noble cause, I don’t know what qualifies as such.
Guide our leader’s right. It is almost comical to think that this line exists in our national anthem because our leaders, both past and present, have walked down every path but the right one. In this administration alone, here are a few things that our so-called leaders have accomplished. 1) Buhari was labelled “Nigeria’s Missing President” by NYT and countless newspapers after disappearing for several months in 2017 without warning. 2) The price of food increased by 108% in a mere 5 years and salaries are certainly not increasing. 3) The Naira lost nearly all its value.
In 1990, Fela sang about these same issues of corruption in our government and it is disheartening to see that things have not improved. Dare I say, we have digressed.
If I sing-ee say, Inf-i-lati-on
If I sing-ee say, mismanagement
If I sing-ee say, corrup-u-tion
If I sing-ee say, stealing by government
Na old old old news be dat-ee-oh
Di problems still dey ba’gba ra ‘gba . . .
Help our youth the truth to know. This generation is like none other. We sat and watched as the aforementioned atrocities occurred under the current, but we are done watching. We are done being spectators as those appointed to serve and protect hunt us down one-by-one and work to destroy our future. The solidarity and organization that I have seen take place over the past week of protesting is a reminder that this generation is different. We are taking our rightful place as the voice of Nigeria and accomplishing in hours and days what our leaders have failed to do after years in office.
The fire that was lit in the hearts of the youth when revitalized #EndSARS protests began on October 8, 2020 is one that cannot be extinguished. We are pursuing the truth and will stop at nothing to set Nigeria free. By fire, by force.
How can we harness the intelligence and ambition of our youth and even begin to approach our nation’s potential if we cannot live to see another day? How will we ensure that “the labor of our heroes’ past shall never be in vain” if we are robbed of the opportunity to have a seat at the table and share our vision for a better Nigeria?
My soul cries for the innocent lives lost because our leaders love greed and would rather drive the country to corruption and turmoil than see the masses prosper. My heart breaks for the families that have lost a brother, sister, friend, spouse. For the mothers that are crying to God to deliver their children home safely, not knowing that they have already fallen victim to the country’s poor leadership. My heart aches for the diaspora that has to fight this battle from an ocean away and watch as their country is torn apart. My heart breaks.
To the world: Nigeria has awoken and she will not rest until she is satisfied.
To the youth: Sọrọ sókè
With love to my country, Eka Jose
A Blog Post by Eka Jose
