At the Polls

I didn’t see Alhaji Sule, the big contractor Though he is a sponsor with a huge stake in government. I didn’t see Chief Ade the financial banker Though he is well-versed on political palavers. I didn’t see Mazi Eze the business mogul He’s engrossed in his profits of sales and remains apolitical. I didn’t see Sir Osahon the civil servant I wonder, but guess he knows he’ll always have his pay. I’ve hardly seen his Excellency, not any of his children But I can see all his servants and some of his relatives. I see market women, okada riders, menial labourers Poor farmers, job seekers and beggars, superintend by Ad-hoc staffs, police, army, party agents, observers Thugs, cultists, pickpockets and party chiefs, all… All under the biting sun from sunrise to sunset. From the tussling crowd I hear and see unending Wails of distress, curses, cracking of limbs and crimson Muffled by fugacious shouts of political victories When from behind the curtain five dollars less swaps for a vote. Stale politicians and their eating party chiefs preside over The poverty, ignorance and despair of the masses who shall Again be left in the cyclic vortexes of socio-economic woes. In the coming years, they’ll, in public, keep licking their wounds While the politicians, in private, will have and eat their cakes!