Sham Cum Shame
They say the virus does not exist. Why?
our leaders politicize its mortality
profiteers make it a minted and crispy business
rumour mongers carry myths of it across the Nile
and the poor are to isolate at home in the safety of hunger and taste!
Too many years of a distrustful polity from our cradle
as always, we heard of billions of a ransom given to the political virus
‘who’ kidnap our collective survival.
We heard from Mrs. Disaster of how billions were expended
on the vulnerable somewhere uncharted.
We heard the golly-governor said he spent billions when he shared
packs of noodles to the hungry as palliatives to survive on five months ago now.
We heard the markets jammed and streaming with viral sweats
of frantic buyers were once fumigated with millions of liquid cash.
We heard the spike in infection cases and deaths suddenly flattened out
after huge private and federal allocations in aids
We heard the country and people are broke and more billions of dollars
are borrowed. But where does the money go to?
We heard the rumours, theories, mythos…!
Majority of the poor and needy only hear but did not see;
for those who have more, more are given and stolen.
Those who have none, even the little they need are denied!
They mutate dead cells of social conscience patting the pauper
to go home and stay safe without a crumb of comfort, hope or bread.
We are tired of this sham of leadership and shame of distrust!
we saw food baskets kept on the threshold of the poor
we saw hungry people lined up for the goodies of charity and state kitchens
we saw the unemployed get insurance and compensation
we saw the government expend social funds and give subventions
we saw the leaders and businesses arouse social trust and hope
not taxes and profits when the people are already famished
we saw the hive of humanity, not the survival of the fittest
we saw a build up of philanthropy
not the building up of many pyramids…during a pandemic.
Nevertheless, these are realities in some other climes
which we are here still dreaming on!
Copyright © Solomon Itsoghole | Year Posted 2020
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