Echoes Of Leadership Poem by Oluwagbemisola O. Lawal

In the twilight of years, past the bend of the river,
I recount the days, the leaders, once with hearts that'd quiver.
Presidents were many, their reigns a fleeting shadow,
Each one's entry and exit, a unique melodramatic tableau.

In the corridors of power and might,
Presidents ascend, veiled in resplendent light.
But as they enter their presidential huts,
Their minds clouded, their judgment shuts.

A dance of dominos, a swift change of guard,
The common man's plight, often disregarded, hard.
Promises made in the morning, forgotten by night,
The sun of hope was often out of sight.

In the heart of Africa, under the acacia's shade,
Words of change were often softly bade.
But actions fell short, dreams often shattered,
The cry of the people, to the wind, scattered.

A continent so rich, in spirit and in soil,
Yet its children suffer, in unseen turmoil.
Oh Africa, your leaders must wake from their slumber,
To the rhythm of progress, they must learn to lumber.

Decades, I have witnessed, of power and deceit,
But the drumbeat of hope, they couldn't defeat.
For in every heart, in every African man,
Resides the strength to change, yes indeed, they can.

As the sun sets on my time, I leave this thought behind,
Africa's leaders must serve, with the people in mind.
For every policy penned, every law that's passed,
Must sow seeds of progress, make shadows that last.

From the Sahara's edge to the Cape of Good Hope,
I dream of a future where the common man can cope.
Oh leaders of Africa, heed this old man's plea,
Unlock the chains of the past, set your people free.