We are children once amused at tales of a snake

slithering away with 36 million fractions of commonwealth.

We were the learners once outwitted by a monkey

who disappeared with double the snake's loot.

We are the ones toiling for an irregular pittance,

overfed with sorrow, tears and blood

while those we empower earn

hundreds of times more.

We are Agatu, Logo, Guma, Nkanu;

despised children whose lives

would be worthy of concern,

if they were cattle.

We are Chibok, Baga, Dapchi, Mubi,

Buni-Yadi; abused, gone too soon.

We are the unloved, vagabond

children of an uncaring father.

We are the oppressed, seeking redress

where the accused is both judge

and executor. Confidence is a distant relative

slaughtered on the slab of injustice.

We are Jesse, Abule-ado, Abule-Egba,

unfortunate ones, set ablaze,

in our nation's wealth, yet blamed

for her shameless neglect.

We are the Odi emergency,

wiped out but not forgotten,

ants decimated by the sledgehammer

of power, our blood cries out; still.

We are Lekki, Alausa, #EndSARS

futures truncated, voices stifled

by rulers who send armed soldiers

to a conversation with children

We are ones whose massacre will not

be erased, whitewashed by the very ones

who strangle us, dim our tomorrow

while we grope amidst today's crumbs.

We are the infants overfed on

sorrow, tears and blood,

We are the hitherto ‘Woke’,

now awakened, demanding better.

We are the questions that will grind your teeth,

we are the meal that will choke you to surrender.

We are answers that will not be swallowed

in your divide-and-rule games,

We are the puppies of a scoundrel country,

determined to ride through myriad upheavals.

We are midwives of this unstoppable rebirth,

and we, will no longer be silenced!