The Anthem And The Pledge Poem by Anu Soneye

How shall I then sing this anthem
and cross my right hand to the left to render this pledge?
Cause every time I tell lies, I feel a twitch in my heart
and a voice, telling me stop that.
For how long would we call it a petition?
For how long would this lie be our tradition?

Compatriots!
How shall we arise when the call is fading away;
when the nation is in excruciating pains?
Though with torment to our souls, we serve our fatherland
but how then can we do it in love
when the seeds of disunity is sown
and the wind of discord has blown?
When our leaders pay tributes to the demons of ethnicity
and our rulers welcome the sylphs of unrest.
For how long would we drink this portion;
this tonic that strengthens religious sentiments?

How then can we do it with strength on empty stomachs
when we are yet to serve the canals of our guts?
I have heard people say that a hungry man is an angry man
but for someone whose meals are only on the plates of hope;
where is the vigor to get angry?
Would he to serve his fatherland, agree?

How then can we do this in faith
when the scriptures of the nation is full of decay?
Should we then sing this anthem in believe
when truly the heart of the nation grieves?


The labor of our heroes past is gradually sinking;
sinking into the crumbling edifice of history.
How then can we stop this calamity
when the very leaders that swear to protect the country's integrity
have forgotten their pledges and gone after prosperity.

We are one nation bound in freedom
but freedom is not October 1st,1960.
Freedom is when I can walk a freeman
Without fear of cattle rearers,
Cattle rearers who hold guns rather than rods.
Freedom is equality.
Freedom is love.
Freedom is what my heart longs for.
Freedom is peace, freedom is unity
but this freedom we have not
for our chains have gotten stronger,
our pains are eating deeper
and all we have left is a prayer.

Oh God of creation!
When you created the heavens and the earth
and made humans,
and us, a Nigeria,
you made it good and void of corruption.
You made it noble.

But what then shall we say is our cause
for we lay in the ruins of imperfection
and our leaders, upon us, a curse.

They stray and we pray thee that you guide them aright.
Let the house of representa-thieves and that of the sin-ate
see your light.
Help our youths to know that armed robbery and scam
Is grievous in your sight
cause only then can we, in love and honesty live right.

How can justice reign,
when our judiciary has become a shelter for embezzlers and money launderers?
How more into the ground can the word ‘just' be buried,
When a fine of Five hundred thousand is paids
by a butterfly who cargos a ship of nectar?

How can we recite this pledge without tears in our eyes?
Without the twitching of our hearts.

How can I,
A Nigerian,
Pledge to be faithful, loyal and honest?
How can I serve on an empty stomach?
How can I defend the unity of a broken home?
How can I uphold the honor and glory of a lost battle?
So help me God.