By Chuks Iloegbunam
The mantra was of Master and Strategy,
Strident, insistent and monotonous.
But when the Come came to Become,
Osun tell the world say dem no dey carry last.
Dem talk say dem like sombodi wey dey dance like no man business
Pass person wey him leg no fit carry him bodi go anywhere.
Dem talk say Osogbo no get space for person wey Prince Charles dey hold him hand make him fit waka
So, therefore, If Charlie Boy of Buckingham no get chance,
Make shaky-shaky leg return, cap in hand, to Ankara once more again,
Yes, and kia-kia, to ask boya Erdogan of Turkey can fit be him walking stick once more again.
Yes, Osun see the Master finish; dem see am well, well
But the man no give dem any chop to masticate, only long turenchi.
Osun come vex because big grammar no be stomach infrastructure;
Oyibo repete no fit buy ordinary alabukun.
Osun take koro-koro eye see Strategist; but na only dem pocket the man strangulate
Na him make dem no fit buy fuel for motor, no fit buy fuel for okada,
No fit buy fuel for ordinary I-Pass-My-Neighbour!
Na him dem come remember the Master promise of the day before yesterday:
“If I no give una NEPA, make una carry okpokpo drive me comot!
Yes, make una put me for wheelbarrow take enter midnight when I come say vote for me once more again.”
Na true say tomorrow dey far, but na only for person wey strategic hunger kpai today.
Na so the day of reckoning come come for Osun State.
Na him Osun pipu come remember say khaki no be leather
Dem no forget, fine Osun pipu, say kinkana no de sour.
Abeg, if you see any son or daughter of Osun State, abi na State of Osun?
Make una salute am well, well: dem head dey kampe on top of shoulder!
Maybe Osun pickin no see money buy whiskey; him no kuku want oyibo-made Abuja tombo liquor.
Him shout say, even if na only ogogoro we see drink, our head dey clear like morning light.
Dem come begin ask plenty plenty question:
Wetin concern centre rank with open order?
Wetin concern agbero with overload?
Wetin virgin forget inside maternity ward?
Why tortoise dey boast say him be eagle?
Wetin concern us with person wey we no know him name?
Person wey we no know from where him from come from!
Person wey we no see even the photocopy of him safiticate!
We no kuku know boya na for St. John abi na Ahmadiya Primary him go school.
Osun pipu come begin dey clap, dey sing; dem come start dey sing, and start dey clap.
As dem dey clap dey chant, na so dem dey gyrate and dey vote
Dem sing say, whether dem carry pákò bludgeon or iron truncheon come
Abi na machete or teargas or rifle or 106…
Fear no dey for our eye anymore again.
We no go vote for lootocracy.
No more again.
We no go vote for plutocracy.
No more again.
We no go vote for gerontocracy.
No more again.
Osun pipu get sense, no be small.
Dem come join courage put for their high sense,
Dem come swear say propaganda no dey kill hunger
Propaganda no dey kpai insecurity, e no dey kaput joblessness.
Propaganda dey enter classroom, carry teacher and pupil go give dem kidnapper.
Propaganda dey tell bandit make dem carry go!
Propaganda dey build IDP camp for east, for west, for north, plus for south.
E dey carry money give dem terrorist take buy AK47 and make video dey laugh suffering pipu.
Brethren and sistren, look out into the byways, tramways and highways.
View the trunkways, the alleyways and the railways.
Behold the spectacle of the massive throngs of joyous processions.
At the lead, the resolute ones, with caps pointed to heaven in deference to the Owner of all.
They are dancing, prancing, leaping with agility;
In one hand, each holds a torch of the powerful beam, in the other a loudhailer.
Their message is to Abuja and the thirty plus six states of the entity.
Their message, loud and clear, is to Nigerian citizens
And to the denizens of this country’s various villages, towns and cities.
Better give an ear to their food for thought:
We have seen the light.
It is ablaze on the horizon, homing into a fresh beginning.
We have torn the shackles that stuck us in the mud and the mire.
With pincers we yanked the nails that pinned us to sheets of sorrow, tears, and blood.
It is the dawn of a new era.
Every but everyone, beloved brothers and sisters, must join the redeeming train,
As with flagellation, we chase away longstanding wrack and ruin
With the barbed bulala whips of our PVCs.
