By Olupona Elizabeth (Lilybeth)
Diverse tongues, one people.
One spirit, soul, and body that
draw from different oracles.
The blood that cried against imperialists,
Souls that tasted the bitterness of liberty.
Their backs were stripped red.
In unity, they mourned the death of iron rulers.
In oneness, they parched for living water.
They were caged and chained from freedom.
Ninetysixty, a year to behold.
Our forefathers sat with reverie hearts.
“WaZoBia,” they murmured.
The Yoruba says “Òmìnira,”
The Hausa say “Yancin kai.”
The Igbo say “Nnwere onwe.”
October 1st, the Giant of Africa
revived her masculinity.
Nigeria gained her sight.
Our ancestors’ spirits sang a new song.
Liberty, Liberty, Liberty,
The end of the beginning for us.
Six decades and six years,
Years of history and stories we tell our children.
Years of bloodshed, tribalism, corruption,
Darkness, poverty, and bad government.
Now, October 1st, 2026,
Giant of Africa, are we delivered?
Has the sweat of our mothers dissipated?
Have the voices of our gods been rejected?
The throne was placed on our fingers.
Yet, we ravaged ourselves with the words
“Chop the national cake.”
