I have tried severally to love you beyond your faults, to totally go blind and deaf when your inadequacies are shown.
I have told myself countless times all you need is more prayers and more love and that with time you’ll get over your issues,
But, I have come to realize that the more I pray for you, the more violent you become
You break my heart every time I have to listen to the sad tale of how you watched that woman lose her only son while she served you, how you stood and watched Haruna and his friends burn down an entire village, reducing the population of the men and increasing the head count of widows
And as usual, nothing happened…
But, you were not always like this, when we were much younger, you had a loving heart, quick to make jokes and very accommodating, you never discriminated against race, tribe, religion or tongue, every one even our ‘oyinbo’ friends found warmth in our home and our doors were always open to them at any time of the day.
But then like a dream you began to change,
Your voice no longer sounded soft and tender, you now thundered when you spoke,
I noticed the arrogance came when your account swelled with the ‘American paper’ every month, it seemed all you cared about was anyone with the money, whether a thief or a murderer, it mattered little to you.
Your smile gave way to grimness and creases on your face lined the once friendly face, you threw tantrums at will, you once had a heart for children but now a rock takes the place where crimson liquid once flowed.
I hate to see you like this, I want to leave you but where and to whom do I go? I haven’t stopped praying for you though, because I realize that things will get worse if I stop, so as much as I hurt
I still remember to update your case before my Father in heaven after asking for my needs and that of my family of course, I mention your name, I really do hope heaven is not tired of you yet. But I sincerely hope not because I have no other country,
MY BELOVED NIGERIA
