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Guardroom Symposium: The Kaboom Finale By
Three of them, Strangers in the night, Casting occasional glances at each other. Herded into colonial guardroom. Scamper, scratch, claw and fall over one another. Cowed and condemned to colonial fate, Master with iron hand, Label-stamp, N, E, W, slave-brands. Fear of master, guardroom artificial peace. World at large drags into world wars and sundry events. Echoes of freedom from far and near, Here and there, hither & thither. There and yonder, desert and sea, hot and cold. Freedom cry a relentless drum, raising decibels to crescendo. High noon, master must go, and go he did. Or so it seems. Strangers in the guardroom stir. Look each other in the face! Who are you? What language is that? What is that on your face? You swallow foo-foo? I chew it. You stay still, I am restless. This is my territory. Your territory? Yes, here. Go away. We have nothing in common. Strangers in the night, casting occasional glances at each other. Temperatures rising. Dog eat dog. Man wolf to man. Monkey work baboon chop. Cart pull horse. Religious fanaticism.
Imperial overlording. Feudalism. Docility. Resource control. Resentment Attacks at will of fellow citizens. Discordant notes. My way or highway. Crab fight. Dog in the manger. What to do? Sojourners to nowhere, sit at ground zero.
Symposium: N: Stay in your corner. E: Let's stay together, like in America. W: I only care for my people, care for your people too. N: My corner is larger than your two corners. E: Better to combine and be big like America. W: Let each mind his shop. N: I'll leave. Araba. E: Please don't, take whatever you want but, please stay. W: N for Ns, E for Es and W for Ws, fair enough? N: What will you give to keep me? E: Pick and choose. W: That will be a mistake. N; I chose to chair the house. W: But, you are not the best. E: If that's what it takes to stay together. N: It's winner take all W: I disagree E: I'll go. N: Not now, when I want W: Let us go get him, he is my nightmare E: You have forced me back, let us see N: Now, all is mine W: Just give me a bit E: You have excluded me N: Shut up, all is mine W: It is my turn N: Who says your turn? I didn't. E: De ja vous, all over again W: Let hell burn N: I'll chain and tame you E: Why did you'll bring me back? W: Let us sit and talk N: Talk about what? E: Resource control W: Sovereign National Conference N: Sharia E: You too settle this W: Whatever
Kaboom! Kaboom ! Kaboom ! Every man to his tent. Peace comes at midnight. In your home and my home. Freedom for you, freedom for me, Everywhere there must be freedom. Echoes sail on oceans and deserts. Good bye to recriminations. Good bye.
Ogaranya Uju Nkwocha Afulezi,Ph.D. Duru Akwukwo III Ndi Umuohiagu November 2001 |