Arise, O compatriots,
Nigeria's call obey
To serve our Fatherland
With love and strength and faith.
The labor of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain,
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom, peace and
unity.
The
last time I penned on paper was probably about a month ago. I got a job and a whole
lot of things changed, 24hrs suddenly became too little, contrary to been too
much in my couch up days. I barely have time to think, talk less of write,
anyways, that’s a topic for another day. But bear in mind that for those of you
who still lazy around the house, couch ridden and putting bored AF on your pm,
your 24hrs will not increase when your days become busier, there’s a lot of
wisdom in learning busy now.
Happy
Independence day though, its the start of a new year for Independent Nigeria and the
start of a new month for us all. My family and I celebrated ours in church and
it was really interesting. We sang the national anthem; it was probably my
first time singing it after about a year since I remember singing it last in last year’s
independence celebration. Gone are the days when we sang it every school
morning, it was just a routine then though, we didn’t even know the exact words talk
less of its essence and meaning. I mean I remember singing “One Nation Pound In Freedom” for years till I realized
it was wrong.
The
Pastor made us sing the National Anthem three times today and in it all, I realized
this anthem could pass for a chapter in the book of Psalms. So intense and deep
and in simple words, it brings the entire message of commitment to heart.
I
gave it a deeper thought and decided not on an analysis but adding a little length
and a couple of synonyms to help you realize that been a Nigerian is not necessarily
by birth or migration, but it is a commitment, one that most of us have fizzled
out of, leaving most part of the job to mere mouth service. So here it is:
Arise O’ Compatriot
Arise O’ Nigerian
Arise O’ Northerner, Southerner,
Westerner and also the Easterner
Be you Igbo, Hausa,
Yoruba or whatever.
Be you a Muslim or a
Christian or even an Atheist.
Arise to a call of duty,
A call from our Father Land, Our pride land, Our Home Land.
A call to service,
service from our hearts, embedded with strength, with Love to share and with
Faith in each other wheather far or near.
Imagine if Nnamdi
Azikwe, Tafa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo and all our freedom fighters sat back
while they should have fought, we would have no home, at least not a home to
call ours. So let not their effort be in vain by Serving selflessly and
thoughtfully with all our hearts and might.
One Nation One Nigeria. Beautiful
and Resourceful. Now bound together by its hard earned liberty and tranquility,
unified despites its diversity.
So
next time you sing the Nigeria National Anthem, as a Nigerian, bear in mind
that its not just a routine but a commitment call, not to our tribes or religion but to our dearly beloved Nation.
Be
a true Nigerian, Our Father Land needs it now more than ever.
Thank
You.
deji
ONADEKO.
