The archive
My country
A citizen trudges for truce
On his father land by his skills
He buries decrees in Europe
And manufactures decrees
In Africa.
A citizen creates satanic
Anarchy to beguile his fellows
And annihilates his country’s
Endowment
Adorn himself with wealth
Build shelter everywhere
Like ant, hide himself in
Ignorance like ostrich
Hiding while leaving its
Tail outside
Ask us who makes biers
A comfortable shelters.
We know your boots is full of pride
But will you retort to your fatherland
Kindly show sympathy to your
Generation and poor.
This is Nigeria
A citizen is slaughtered
His blood sucked
His parts are valued for
Worldly desires
A fellow is doleful and couch
Do we not think we pay
Back on doomsday.
But when we say split
The south loses its tone
To north and east to west
Then social life, food, dresses
Integrated except for further
Compromise
Let’s imprison the unbridle
Ambitions of today
And love each other.
Umaru Kaka Ungo · 1993
EDITOR’S NOTE
Originally published in Citizen on 1 November 1993, p. 39. This diplomatic transcription preserves the wording and lineation verified against the archived page.