Nigeria- What are we celebrating?

Everyone has a perception of me 

Even those I have given control over me do as they please,

So it's baffling to me why they are surprised I'm struck with disease.

They exert me 360degrees and with the million and counting brains, they are surprised when some parts begin to cease?

Everyone is looking out for their own,

I'm yet to see a system that has organs performing at their will, 

And the system avoids self destruct.

But daily Nigeria system seems to re-calibrate itself,

Still standing, inflicted but ironically still standing! 

Everyone is looking out for their own,

They want what's best for them but when you ask them to define selfish, they look at the dictionary ignoring the mirror,

Nigeria can continue to defy the principles of science,

But a house divided against itself can't stand!

A nation against itself is a ticking bomb and no matter how many times we keep moving doomday, one day we might be too distracted, we let it all go! 

Everyone is trying to provide a solution,

I do appreciate you all for that.

I see your fliers all over the world with my Coat of Arms,

and the organs of Nigeria gracing the panel,

I attend these meetings with you and I leave stuck and constipated all at once,

Why you ask?

Let me illustrate: 

When you go to these conferences or debates,

It's just like me going to the bathroom to get rid of my excess,

You go to this meetings to tell the world, our solution, 

I sit down at the seat of the bathroom, and I let it all out,

Just as you analyze the problems and provide solutions, 

The conference is over, you take pictures and then you leave....and do nothing about all you said! 

You leave me behind! 

You left me behind! 

You forgot to give me the tissue paper to clean up my stink! 

You speak the solution and then do nothing about it....

Look into my eyes,

What do you see?

The sum of you make me who I am, 

Your diversity makes me ever green,

But your confusion is transforming my white to brown. 

I'm not some abject abstract you refer to, I'm your immediate reality that defines you.

I really am you.

No matter how far you go, when you hear Nigeria, your blood cells awaken!

Regardless of your affection or not for me, if there's something connecting me to you, you are me.

If you can take care of you, why not try and take care of me. 

I am 54, don't check me into a care home just yet!  

I know who I am, The GIANT of AFRICA, 

If you see me such, wouldn't you reconsider how you see me, see you? 

Wouldn't it redefine how you see me?

Written by Somto Stella Okeke