The Clarion Call - A Poem for Nigeria by Kingsley Chinedu Nnanweuba

In the FCT they shout cheers!
In Ogoni it is tears.
Suffering and smiling,
Baboon dey chop, Monkey dey work,
Wait! Monkey dey work Baboon dey talk.
Hmm! Monkey dey toil Baboon dey destroy.

Let’s not be timid like a Deer, let’s be bold like a Bear;
It’s time to bring down the sun, though the house may burn.
To them all must be taken while some have not eaten.
To serve our father land, but you are ready to starve this very land.
The military came with the boot and acted like brute,
Civilians came with agbada, it’s their time to loot.
The youths are in the beer parlour just siddon dey look.
It is time to wear the boots like the brutes and ask for the loots.
Arise o compatriots, it’s not time to talk like parrots.
The labour of our heroes past, shall never be in vain,
Seems the labour of our heroes present, is for personal gain.
Let us serve with our heart and might;
Then the burden would be light.
This has been for a while, good we’re asking why?
Compatriots who have been cowed but refuse to cower,
Under fire but refused to retire,
Retired but refused to be tired,
Repressed but refused to be depressed,
Castigated but refused to be demotivated,
Disgraced but refused to be derailed,
On these our hope is laid.
In the middle of the tunnel I can see light;
When light come, things would cease to be tight,
Great lofty heights we’ll be attained,
In a nation where peace and justice will not be detained.
And we shall no longer live in gory,
Then we can boldly shout, To God be the Glory!
"The Clarion Call" is a poem written by Kingsley Chinedu Nnanweuba for Nigeria's Independence celebration in Malaysia. The poem was written to inspire courage for change in Nigeria and Africa. Chinedu is a student of INTI University Malaysia where he is studying for a Masters of Business Administration.