[POEM] Measurements

By Abubakar D. Sani, Esq.

Nigeria – a country known to all, yet full of many ‘unknowns’;
Name it, we have it here: unknown gunmen;
Unknown soldiers, unknown workers (ghosts);
And, unknown law enforcement agents

Unknown (or, at any rate, little-known) geniuses;
Unknown (because, fake) drugs, doctors and lawyers ;
Unknown (because, incompetent) leaders;
And, unknown ailments and illnesses

Here, virtually the only thing which everyone is adept at –
Is the rumour mill and pontification;
When it comes to either of that, Nigerians will be agog;
We are all self-opinionated and judgemental

But, given the chance to make a change, we are probably worse;
A quick example here will suffice;
‘He is the Messiah!’, we all chorused (well, at least most of us);
But, the reality turned out to be otherwise

Why don’t we tone down passing judgement and be more objective?
Easier said than done; Start with yourself’, I hear you say;
But, of course, no one is immune from this malaise;
The blame is all round – we are all guilty

But, let the cure start from the man (or woman) in the mirror;
‘Am I really better than others – do I, myself, make the cut?’;
Talk is cheap, it is said: ‘Can I walk my talk?’
‘Can you honestly answer this poser – on your honour?’

‘Even if you do, my friend, wait for others to make the call’;
For, as we say in law: ‘You can’t be a judge in your own cause’;
No, that would go against the very law of nature;
As ordained by the one true God!

Written By Abubakar D. Sani, Esq.
30th October, 2021