The Nigeria I want to see

The Nigeria I want to  see

Nigeria, the passport to every man's dream

The mere sight of our men makes every woman cream

So I woke up this morning, took a sip of hot tea

Spilled a drop on my shirt, so I stripped revealing dark skin

A color I'm proud to call my own

Not to be sold out to some artificial whitening lotion

My idea of beauty indeed isn't manufactured

It's original and pure like our tradition and culture

After changing my attire, I adorned myself, not with gold or silver

But my native cap and traditional regalia

Stepped outside to the street, called out to the neighbor

With a strong Nigerian accent, not a forced accent I speak in labor

I am Nigerian, I am proud to look and sound like one

58 years ago and beyond, it was a battle our fathers and forefathers fought and won

Not so we could look and speak like the imperialists

The same slave traders that shackled and chained our wrists

How sad it is, that the evil we fought so hard to eradicate

Is what we clamor so hard to imitate

I remember when all around me, I heard white but saw black

Different shades of black and brown, a color hack

Now its pure brown sugar and black chocolate

Speaking in one language, preaching love and zero hate

Electricity regular like a monthly period

Employment building like studs on steroids

Plane tickets, as easy as getting a cigarette

Politicians queuing for a plate of service, equal rates

Hourglass running at an average tempo

Faith isn't caged and locked in a temporary temple

Education and technology, like amala and ewedu

At 58 our sovereignty isn't as foggy as a mountain dew

Ethnic chauvinism and conspiracy, fragments of history

Our economy is a woman, she is full of pleasant mystery

And so every day I go out dressed in pride and confidence

Like a man whose lady is the cynosure of all eyes

And so at night, I return with my head held high

The center of attraction of all nations, even the universe can testify

I walk, talk, and act Nigerian

Because no matter how white I look, sound or feel, they will never take me as one

No matter how long we act as political actors

In the end, we will rise to greener pastures

This is Nigeria, green and white is the color of our wonderland

Proudly Nigerian till the end of time, one nation, one people united in diversity, this is our brand!

Kingdavid Chinaeke Ofunne

Authorpreneur