Long Abuja Poems

Identity Apples

iam a fat skeleton, resurrecting 
from the sad memories of dada 
and dark mysteries of aminism 
iam buganda 
i bleed hope 
i drip the honey of fortune 
makerere, think tank of africa 
i dance...

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As October 1 approaches, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY……………………
I have enormous tracts of land and vast volumes of water, but cannot feed myself.
So I spend $1 billion to import rice and another $2 billion on milk.
I produce...

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the cry of the people
I remember the day of glory
as they stand so truthful
with a new political slogan 
of change 
I remember the faithful afternoon
full of promise of hope 
while we chant their political names
with...

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The sun shall rise again but
not in our season of songs this time, 
because we are strange to it glamouring light. 
We sparkle and shine not among its  Galaxy of hope, 
an unformidable corrupt...

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I am sorry,
I am very sorry,
This is for my daughter
I mean my young, beautiful pet.

That was it, the voice of my friend
Who now prides himself
Of another daughter across the street
Only God knows how many of...

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When I look at the Nile or Niger
My heart overflows with joy for such a wonder 
As currents daringly flow on each iconic river 
Every fountain has wealth embedded in its waters
Each mountain, sealed by...

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When would this country be well again?
When would Nigeria be good again?
Who is against us or for us here in Nigeria?
When would our democracy speak for us?
When would you and me learn not to trust?
My...

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In slumbering slope they lay, 
their gaiety snores in rhythmic peaks of cadences,
The lily livered japes 
Kings from central castings,
Heroes of one hour, 
jostling  for President with mere words     ...

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I remember a friend

I remember a dear friend, among a host;
A friendship with which I could boast
Among colleagues our friendship was the toast
And our story is still told from coast to coast.

I remember the excitement...

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I had to down my tools
I had to terminate the calling
I struck wielding the ngungi..
I struck the great gadgados
Defender i neutralized
What is mine by right

The mob was unleashed on me
Thoughtless humans trying..
Nay baying for my...

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ABUJAS TIME MACHINE

We do recall the day Abuja
arrived in a strange flying machine 
claimed to have created da ding..
landed at the caffe near..
our lecture halls...

Abuja took some permanent markers-
wrote some gibberish on the wall..
alluding to...

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Its creation’s simplicity still stands as a difficult puzzle
head is twisted backwards while in a forward motion
still looking behind at the chronicles of some centuries ago
long before the infiltration of Christian missionaries and Arab traders
is...

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There were two of them
Lemmy and Remmy...
Two leaders born 
Born of destiny

The weight of government 
Must rest on the shoulders 
Of Lemmy and Remmi 
Israe-el and Leki

One king the other kingsman
One immortalized one mortal

There is...

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Choked by the incense of poetic justice,
I volunteered to be slain for the betterment of humanity.
The paintings of my ink on white sheet were witnesses,
When in Abuja, I drew my poetic daggers,
Against a twin bomb...

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The hailings in the coridor of corruption
to the echoes of silence in the streets
Sirens whispering tales of wars
marines marching on looted lots
Justice is strangled by corrupt claws
Listen to the thunderstorm of civil lies
Masses keep mute...

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IME IMELA YOU DEFEND US NOW

Shed tears not for your loved one
Who has departed leaving -Ime sad
Leaving Ime bitter- Ime you passed
You declined the sacrifice MuKiama

Ime so young yet now you have to
Use the forbidden...

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LOVE ON NET




Nigeria’s a jungle though
There’s a fairy 
She’s my first love on net
Magamathy.,the sweetest

She must be a bud
Blooming across lush green leaves
I  feel the throb of her petals
Rippling  like  breasts

Black though,shining
Must...

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They say it’s all we need 
But would it be all we see,
When it comes, is it constant?

Do we need a monster?
To give us the thing we need?
Do you always get what you seek?

I lived...

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INSPECTOR ABUJA

Wonder why when abuja...
has proved over and over again..
that hes capable of just about pullin..
any stunt from his warped brain..

abuja became a police inspector
chasing thief complete with a gun..
a loaded gun.. uniform police coat..
nothin...

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I have been around the world
Deepest, darkest corners of the globe
Down south, up north
Up high in the air time countless
Through routes criss-a-cross
Many times on sea sails
I have seen the world greatest cities
Lived in the thickets...

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It should have been here, this court
Here in Arusha or Abuja or nearer
This court that seeks to try Africans
For crimes said to be committed
Against people here in Africa
Not at The Hague, not in Europe
Not in...

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Twelve Voyagers in transit,
In the highways of Lokoja enroute Abuja,
One man wanted the natural breeze,
Another man wanted a treat to the ACs,
The others absolutely wanted nothing.
The first man got up, and
Slid the windows open,
After a...

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We got trapped for seven hours 
We couldn’t un-trap ourselves
From the dungeon of the road
Couldn’t call or receive calls
Was indeed incommunicado 
Sim card got stuck 
Would we ever get to our destination?

She got fed up,...

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LOVE ON PHONE (2)

Two weeks run past us  
Who, when do we breaks the jinx?
She can’t come to Lagos
Her project thesis on her neck
It then fell on my round neck.

I just came back from...

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Author: Okechukwu Iroegbu
Title: Let them hear...

Let them hear...
From the hills of Isuikwuato
My sleepy hilly land'e
From my new'est bride Uyo
To the ancient muds of Enugu
From Makurdi's Benue river beach
To those peaked crags of Jos
Let them hear...
As...

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