Alas and behold, Nigeria’s diamond jubilee told

‘PEACE BE UPON YOU’ as I write a chronicled citation,
Of the birth and the history of the Nigerian Nation.

First, The ‘Bantu,’ ‘Nok,’ ‘OpiNsukka’ laid a foundation.
Then came the ‘Borno Caliphate’ and ‘Ijaw kingdom’ creation.

The existence of ‘13 farming families’ brought civilization,
Before Europeans made contact in the 1450 duration.

By 1900, all present Nigeria was under the British Crown station.
It gave way to the Protectorate of North and South formation.

Lord Frederic Luggard established ‘Indirect Rule’ as part of his donation.
In 1914, amalgamation of North and South brought much jubilation.

The rise of a Grand Nigeria gave way to elation and celebration.
In 1922, ‘The Clifford Constitution,’then guided our direction.

‘Macpheson Constitution’ replaced it in 1951 after much agitation.
The Constitutional Conference held in 1957 followed an aspiration.

Then the Nigerian people yearned for British abdication.
So in 1959, our nation held its first National election.

It set up an Independent government; a Sovereign African nation.
Nigeria was born and it was the end of our colonization.

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Alas and Behold, Let the story be told,
Of a nation, a race now sixty years old.
The 1st of October, 2020 has enrolled,
The Green and white flag to rise proudly and Bold.
Rich in Character, population, minerals and Black Gold,
We are God’s own people, whose fate is controlled.
As the World watches our Diamond Jubilee unfold,
Nigeria, a spectacular power with brilliance untold.

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Our first Republic started on the 1st of October 1960 date,
With Prime Minister TafawaBalewa and Nnamdi Azikwe, the great.

By 15th Jan 1966, a Military Coup put General Ironsi as Head of State.
But a counter coup on 26th July was launched right out of the gate.

It made General Gowon the C-In-C in the ultimate checkmate.
But, by now, the polity was heated andthe tension was innate.

General Ojukwu declared for Biafra and a war it did create.
It started on 30th May 1967 and was a time of much frustrate.

War ended on 15th Jan 1970, with the ‘No-Victor-No-Vanquished’ debate.
Gen. Murtala assumed power on 29th Jan 1975 applying his own mandate.

But on 13th Feb 1976, Murtala was killed, in an act that did devastate.
And Gen Obasanjo made his first appearance,as the Head of our Estate.

Obasanjo paved way for the 2nd Republic, amidst a mighty big elate.
Alhaji ShehuShagari became President before his time did decimate.

In 1983, Gen Buhari took over to put the Military back on the plate.
But by August 1985, General Babangida became the heavyweight.

In 1993, a‘Free and Fair’ attempt for democracy did deviate,
As the June 12th annulled elections did clearly demonstrate.

Instead of Chief Abiola, Chief Shonekan became Interim Head of State.
However on 17th Nov 1995, General Abachathen snatched the crate.

On 8th June 1998, Gen Abdulsalam took over as Abacha became ‘Late’
Gen Obasanjo then ascended to power in the 4th Republic freight.

On 23rd Nov 2009, President Yaradua’s luck did infiltrate.
He rose unexpectedly to powerat aquintessential rate.

President Goodluck came right after and proceeded to captivate.
Now President Buhari is back. “Phew…That is my Nigerian History Update!”

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Alas and Behold, Let the story be told,
Of a nation, a race now sixty years old.
The 1st of October, 2020 has enrolled,
The Green and white flag to rise proudly and Bold.
Rich in Character, population, minerals and Black Gold,
We are God’s own people, whose fate is controlled.
As the World watches our Diamond Jubilee unfold,
Nigeria, a spectacular power with brilliance untold.

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Now the reality we face is ‘three steps forth, five steps back.!’
Our focus and direction is truly quite whack.

Epileptic electricity renders households pitch black.
Our communities all over; clean water they lack.

The greed and corruption in us continues to crack,
Our development, our marrow, our positive track.

Insecurity has gone nuclear. Criminals rob and hijack.
The citizens can’t travel without fear of attack.

Kidnappers and bandits litter our every outback.
It’s a belief that security forces just don’t give a jack.

To feed is expensive, so most can’t afford a Rice Sack.
Our majority live in poverty with a massive drawback.

Our much rigged elections render our democracy quack.
It produces leaders who reason like a Megalomaniac.

Nigerians are desperate to get a positive feedback.
Our nation, our glory must make a comeback!

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Alas and Behold, Let the story be told,
Of a nation, a race now sixty years old.
The 1st of October, 2020 has enrolled,
The Green and white flag to rise proudly and Bold.
Rich in Character, population, minerals and Black Gold,
We are God’s own people, whose fate is controlled.
As the World watches our Diamond Jubilee unfold,
Nigeria, a spectacular power with brilliance untold.

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Listen, in 2015, we all witnessed a mass Revolution,
When Nigerians went to the polls yearning for a solution.

From PDP, APC was the most popular substitution.
But not long after elections, hope was in dilution.

The vote for transformation proved to be an illusion.
Return of Riffraff’s and Vagrants littered the Institution.

The ‘Wind of Change’ was propelled by high expectation.
But much like the ‘Next Level,’ it was the same destitution.

Governors keep their immunity to avoid prosecution.
The Senate is a resting home for Ex-Governors contribution.

Self-interest of leaders and their pungent pollution,
Is the order of the day; there is no restitution.

The administration’s second term is almost in dissolution.
If something doesn’t change, there will be no Legacy-Evolution.

To salvage this nation, there must be Wealth distribution.
And a total overhaul of The 1999 Constitution

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Alas and Behold, Let the story be told,
Of a nation, a race now sixty years old.
The 1st of October, 2020 has enrolled,
The Green and white flag to rise proudly and Bold.
Rich in Character, population, minerals and Black Gold,
We are God’s own people, whose fate is controlled.
As the World watches our Diamond Jubilee unfold,
Nigeria, a spectacular power with brilliance untold.

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The current State of the world is a torrid affair.
Who knew that ‘Vision 2020’ would bear such despair.

A ‘Novel Coronavirus’ crushed every healthcare.
From Wuhan in China, it spread everywhere.

From droplets that seemed to suspend in the air,
It travelled like lightening, giving a great scare.

All powerful nations fell under its snare.
Humanity retreated; No more ‘Nom De Guerre!’

A new Global order emerged from the Covid 19 lair,
Where we all have to take out our face masks and wear.

To sanitize and social distance, we became aware.
Locked down from all movement. It was a nightmare.

No Hajj, Sports or Olympics was a vision quite rare.
Death and Sorrow is widespread in this present warfare.

A Vacine emerging soon is our ultimate prayer.
“…But Chinese Eating Habits are disgusting; I swear!”

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Alas and Behold, Let the story be told,
Of a nation, a race now sixty years old.
The 1st of October, 2020 has enrolled,
The Green and white flag to rise proudly and Bold.
Rich in Character, population, minerals and Black Gold,
We are God’s own people, whose fate is controlled.
As the World watches our Diamond Jubilee unfold,
Nigeria, a spectacular power with brilliance untold.

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For a Land that is blessed with such beautiful Crest,
Our misfortune is the regional and tribal protest.

Two hundred and fifty ethnicities so fabulously compressed,
In the Giant of Africa to thrive and invest.

But instead of uniting; North, East, South and West,
We are more divided than ever, feel oppressed and detest.

In the North, Fulani herdsmen leave communities distressed,
While the Ghost of Biafra makes the East seem possessed.

Now there’s calls of Oduduwa emanating from the West Nest.
And in the Middle Belt our people appear to be stressed.

While the Niger Deltans show signs of being depressed.
We must bury the hatchetin our ultimate test.

‘Arise Oh Compatriots’ because our Sovereign is best.
We should be ‘Our Brother’s Keeper’ of One-Nation professed.

Nigeria’s strength is in our diversity as our forefathers suggest.
‘One nation, One people’ remains our core manifest!

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Alas and Behold, Let the story be told,
Of a nation, a race now sixty years old.
The 1st of October, 2020 has enrolled,
The Green and white flag to rise proudly and Bold.
Rich in Character, population, minerals and Black Gold,
We are God’s own people, whose fate is controlled.
As the World watches our Diamond Jubilee unfold,
Nigeria, a spectacular power with brilliance untold.

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As we face a new frontier in this 2020 Year,
I urge all Nigerians to adhere to volunteer.

To steer and be near what is good and sincere.
To cheer for our nation, so it can persevere.

The smear of Nigeria has been quite severe.
We are known as the scamming and 419 pioneer.

To add insult to injury, it does thus appear,
Our nation has been added to the terrorism sphere.

Our forefathers fought to clear our atmosphere,
From the disunity, destruction we see in our veneer.

Awolowo, Zik, Sardauna, they were the pioneer,
Of this beautiful land; our greatest souvenir!

Balewa and Macauly did diligently commandeer,
In nurturing this nation so that each of us can cheer!

EyoIta and Ikoku stood up to shape the sphere,
Of the evolution of this country so we could profiteer!

Enahoro and Sir Udoma continued to, thus, appear,
Whenever we were taking the wrong and backward gear!

Osadebay and Joseph Tarka were always quite severe,
In protecting Nigeria from any negative interfere!

Chief Ajayi and Awoniyi were the opposite of insincere.
They were each what you would call progressive engineer!

When I think of Aminu Kano, for me, it brings a tear.
He wanted poor Nigerians to smile from ear to ear!

For our forefathers let us make sure we strongly reappear!
Let us be the greatest nation in the Southern Hemisphere!

Dear fellows, dear comrades, Nigerians far and near,
Don’t tear up, let’s gear up, let’s be austere, and let’s cheer!

Let’s fight for our nation, without favor, without fear!
Let’s clear misconceptions and make them disappear!

From the North to the South and the middle; front and rear,
Nigerian’s are one, we are peer, and none should domineer!

As we mark our Diamond Jubilee in this challenging Leap-year,
Let us leave bad energy and chakra to go away from here!

Our Motherland is warn, we must conform Nigerian’s dear!
Hannatu Musawa auctioneers this message in Nigeria’s Diamond year!

Written By Barrister Hannatu Musawa
I invite you to follow me on Twitter and Instagram:
@hanneymusawa
hanneymusawa