ALBERT Chinualumogu AchebeThe inimitable Bard of OgidiIconic wordsmith with inscrutable mienLeader with uncommon humanityConsummate storyteller changing livesHe is the Essence of God's goodnessEmbedded in the mind and soul of manShining through personal life exemplarAnd works exhibiting pure geniusWith a Classic in 50 languages impactingAncient wisdom from a modern mindLifelong learnings couched in parablesInspiring lives from cradle to graveFolk tales with wisdom quite telling!Great souls cloned with simple wordsAnd imbued with the breath of LifeIn trials and triumph of the human spiritThe Bard of Ogidi is himself an Oracle!His restless spirit our magic wandFor transforming our lives and countryProphetic words of destiny foretoldBeware Soul Brother, heed his words!Else Things Fall Apart in our worldAnd life No Longer at Ease withinUntil the blazing Arrow of GodStrikes at the heart of evil doers!Unless repentance negates the illAnd truth prevails in our lives fulfilledThis darkness then precedes a new dawnWhence love for all tends our worldHealing the Anthills of the SavannahAnd resolving The Trouble with NigeriaChinua Achebe legend of all timeBlessed and fulfilled beyond measureYet so sublime with people empathy!National Merit Award scornedProtesting our needless sufferingAnd poverty in the midst of plentyWhat with all the wasted generations!A nation in endless drift aimlessLeadership, even with a few good soulsAppears inept, ineffectual and ditheringAs today as yesterday as previousExactly as we have nurturedEven some fertile minds highly giftedSuddenly self-serving ignoring our plightAs government changes them foreverThe led bought with pieces of silver!As above so below in our inequitiesOur future mortgaged by a fewHolding us hostage in our fatherlandNational conscience raped and buriedAnd national treasury brazenly lootedLife cheapened as lawlessness reignsWith killings for ethnicity and faithBrother against brother in lives fatalOur collective values in inverted logic!And yet could all have been differentFor this nation so abundantly blessed!But there is yet a fighting chanceTo listen and heed Chinua's wordsAnd transform our lives and countryBuilding Nigeria of our lofty dreamsTo see that day the Lord has madeWhen a new Nigeria rises in gloryFrom the ashes of a dreary pastInto a nation great on world stageWhere equity and justice truly reign!With intellect, discipline and ingenuityValued higher than oil and gasAnd the people a united force rebornWho excel and prevail on a new dawnIn one nation thriving under GodWith visionary Leadership truly selflessAnd every Nigerian taking responsibilityBelieving in themselves and countryStriving on and on against all oddsWith hope more audacious than Obama'sShowing love!And tough love Chinua's wayFor everyone I would say!Then shall we begin life anewAs a people diverse and inclusiveBound as one in God's healing handsSupporting our present LeadershipIn spite of our collective failingsWith their promise of system changeRising above our imperfectionsTo build One Nation standing tallForgiving one and other healing!Loving ourselves as ONE peopleGuiding our leaders aright willingSearching ourselves ceaselessLiving the truth all seasons endlessCelebrating heroes past and presentEspecially the great Bard of OgidiThe Pen of our collective souls!Acclaimed in nations far and nearA moving spirit around the worldThe ultimate Man of the People!Convener of the Africa ColloquiumRooted in humanity and givingA life of sacrifice all seasonsWith love for us all unceasing!Ministering but unministered untoThe world won with love and tearsHearts and minds attuned far and nearWhen he is ageless and quits the raceMay a smile be etched neat on his faceAs Nigeria lives his vision and fame!'Dr. Yakubu (gsyakubu@yahoo.com) of Avante Property Asset Management Services, Lagos penned these verses to commemorate Prof. Achebe's 81st birthday which is today, November 16.
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