Like most movements
(Including life itself)
It started innocently enough
With a call, or more
But which – because of the message –
Rapidly spread and became a cascade
A docile, long-suffering populace
Dared to challenge the State
For being at the receiving end
Of the worst excesses
Of those sworn to protect them
And kitted at their expense
Our law enforcement agents:
Our supposed knights in shining armour
Became, instead, our worst nightmares
Licensed by the State to unleash terror
Or, at least, that was
The public perception
Of an infamous Police formation
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad
Or, SARS, as they were commonly known
Rare, indeed, is the household
(If anecdotal evidence is to be believed)
That was spared of their ‘evil’
Their alleged atrocities
Were seemingly better imagined
If confirmed, it is just as well
That they are not recounted
Suffice it to say that
They were tales of horror
Anguish, pain and trauma
Unbefitting of men of honour
And so, it came to pass
All it took was a spark
To ignite what
Has turned into a conflagration
Initially manifesting as
A peaceful protest or Citizens’ Action
Calling for the end of SARS
A simple, innocuous call
However, no sooner had
The Government relented
Through a Presidential Statement – no less
Replacing it with SWAT
Than the protesters
Came up with yet more demands
This time, two dozen-strong
Well, almost – short by one
Wrong-footed, the Government
Re-considered its options
And issued threats
Backed with force
But, this ‘foe’ was like no other
As, even though it was ‘unarmed’
It was well-organized
Tech and media-savvy
They raised money
Seemingly in a jiffy
And dispensed it
To the needy
The spectacle played out
In all the media platforms
And the agitators
Lapped it all up
Yes, literally and metaphorically
As they carefully disposed their litter
Wherever they massed
Lest they be charged with irresponsibility
Unfortunately,
As with all things Nigerian
(Or so, it seems)
It is getting out of hand
With some agitators
Reportedly resorting to violence
Harassing law-enforcement agents
And, others – without discrimination
In Benin, they broke a jail
And released its in-mates
In Osun, the Governor’s motor-cade
Was attacked: luckily, he escaped
The situation continues to evolve
With events seemingly
Possessing a life of their own
Which only the brave can predict
This did not, however, deter
One of the movement’s organizers
Known by his pseudonym, ‘Segalink’
From publicly disavowing it
Thus corroborating
The Government’s position
That Fifth Columnists
Had taken control
But, who knows?
Who can tell?
Such is the state of trust
And the disconnect
Between our leaders
And the rest of us –
Their followers
And, yet, it might get worse
Given that it is happening
In the midst
Of an ever-so-fragile recovery
From the Covid-19 pandemic
What is the way out?
Any ideas, anyone?
Is this a Gordian knot?
Who will save this house?
Is the end nigh –
For Nigeria as a geo-political fact?
Or, will we execute yet another escape act?
Having come, severally, close to the precipice?
The prognosis is so dire
That some have wondered
Whether the end-time foretold in the Scriptures
Has arrived early in these shores
The clergy have called for prayers
After all, we are reputed
To be the most religious nation on earth
Accordingly, all hands must be on deck
Summoning the Lord from on High
To preserve this union
With all its imperfections
Albeit, in a way that is re-ordered and right
So that we might yet fulfill
Our potential, so gloriously foretold
But consistently imperiled
By our habits of old
