I was reading the blog of a friend of mine today. He was talking about aspects of Nigeria that are good. Nigeria is often called the giant of Africa. Yet inside it, the aspects that are good are very few. What shall we do?

The continent no doubt needs leaders. But who are they? What makes a person a true leader? Is it just the fact that he has achieved political status? Well, when we think of the high-handedness of some of the people who should be serving the citizenry, and wonder why they cannot even lift a finger to do anything about all the filth in the land, we are forced to shake our heads and cry bitterly. Who will save Africa? No one man can.

For Love of the Motherland

Mama Africa

I think of my Africa
Black woman of mettle
Sitting like a forlorn workwoman
On the slimy green.

Mama let me help you up
Take my hand and heave
Just one move of muscle
Will raise you from your stooping

She sits still
Reluctant and bemused
Unrepentant of her inferior folly

I am agitated
Mama cannot go on such forever
One more effort must remind her
That I am still her son
And her shame is mine as well.

We must never ignore the filth of poverty in the land. We must respond to it with the cleanliness of our conscience and the strength of our goodwill.