The North | Emmanuel Inya Otu-Nwachi

If a lesser mortal made the statement
They'd have gone for his throat
And would have cried blue murder

For His Highness to have said
The North's the worst place
To live speaks volumes

He must've seen, must've heard a lot
He spoke the whole truth
Those who don't like it should do their worst

The powers that be may depose him
The truth would stand for him
When history judges our blood sucking leaders

They've sold their consciences to Mammon
And made their hearts impervious

Like congealed cement they feel not
But they'd be judged when the time comes
And would occupy history's hall of the infamous.

Poet's note: The northern part of Nigeria has the largest percentage of Moslems in the country and dominates the politics of the country. Recently while the south protested against police brutality and bad governance, the north refused to take part because the President is from the north. However, one of the most prominent traditional cum religious leaders in the country, the Sultan of Sokoto complained that the north is the worst place to live in because of the kidnappings and killings taking place in the north. The poem examines this and speaks against government's insensitivity to the plight of the people.