A Poem: Dear Tolu (A Special Dedication To Nigeria's First Female Combat Helicopter Pilot) Poem by Raimi Babatunde

Dear Tolu
You are a hero in our book
A chord in our fret
An asset to the Nigerian Nation
A perfect definition of valor
Because you are a hero in our book

Real heroes are sacrificial
They live that others may live
They are the gods that we know
You maintained the altitude
And your exploits were impeccable
Because you are a heroinein our book

You are a hero our book
Because you stepped up where others cowered
Gave us hope in a hopeless world
Especially under operation "Gama Aiki"
God bless the union and the womb that bore you Tolu

To a Poet, you are "The line"
A writer, "The Book"
A songwriter, the verse
To the Nigerian Airforce, a Combatant
But to us, you're our Heroine

One day we'll tell "The Story"
Not of Queen Amina of the 16th century but 21st
But a story of once upon a time
Where you Tolulope Arotile changed the narratives
And gave the girl child a voice
And Nigeria; respite.

We'll miss you
The Armed Forces misses you
Your parents wished this day never came
But you transited a Heroine, in active duty
Your sun set at noonday
But your star hangs brightly above
And forever, we'll follow your brightness Tolulope Arotile.