If I ask for the soul of Nigeria
Will you give me a senator’s wage and power
Or leave me with the protesters’ rage and weakness
Will you pipe me along the pipelines
Or lead me to the pyramids of Kano
The cocoa tower in Ibadan
The industry of the East
Will you give me a plot in Abuja
or justice every time, everywhere
Tell me Luther’s dreams or
Recite me poisoned propaganda
In election campaigns
and let unity come like a helpless doctor to fail
Tell me of the people
A history marred in darkness
can be recreated in light
Or will you give me hope
Ageless maiden
None has found the way to her
Old common tireless hope
Given to our fathers
I have given to others too
neighbors and strangers
Give me hope
Should I run away with it
To foreign lands at least
It might grow so big abroad
And no ship can land it back
Like the Obama paradox
If I asked for the soul of Nigeria
Do you know what it is
Will you show me a people, part of a frail humanity
Fortified by resilience, hope and hope
akaolisa1987@gmail.com
