To Mandela at 95: Lessons for Nigerian Politicians

Madiba is 95! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!
Madiba is in a hospital bed
Not in Europe nor Saudi nor the US
But in his native South Africa

It's his birthday today
The whole world is celebrating him
Nelson Mandela International Day
First of its kind for a living individual

The streets of South Africa are agog
Kids, adults; blacks, whites, coloureds, Indians
All singing and shouting for Madiba, the great one
Who touched the lives of his people positively

But I wonder: where are Nigerian leaders
Both past and present; none is worth remembering
Due to their greed, nepotism, corruption and bigotry
They are selfish and grossly incompetent

They pilfer health funds and treat their headaches abroad
They embezzle school money and send their wards abroad
They distribute holy books to paupers while stealing their meals
They ask you to pray while they make away with your under-aged daughters

Shame! Shame on a handful of thieving brigade
Whose gluttony shames the devil himself;
Whose insatiable sexual perversion shames Sodom;
Whose lying tongues have grown into swats of braids of deception

To you, dear Madiba! Thank you!
God bless and keep you for a longer time
Because you are the only reason I still know
That black Africans can be good, selfless leaders for their people!

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