Poet of the week: Salim Ubale
Allegiance I pledge allegiance to… oh, did you think I would say flag? or did you think I’d pledge my trust to leaders with deflated egos? Nay! I pledge allegiance to pure justice to the struggles of our ancestors to the battles of the mind, body and soul that made real impact I […]
Salim Ubale
Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to…
oh, did you think I would say flag?
or did you think I’d pledge my trust to leaders with deflated egos?
Nay!
I pledge allegiance to pure justice
to the struggles of our ancestors
to the battles of the mind, body and soul that made real impact
I pledge allegiance to the truth
to the likes of Kamal Khashoggi who perished for questioning a biased status quo
to the mind liberators of our generation
to political correctness in the face of aggression
I pledge allegiance to bravery
to the likes of Gambo Sawaba who fought for the rights of her kins
to those being persecuted for voicing out against our oppressors
to artists who subtly enlighten us with persuasive paintings to address despotism
I pledge allegiance to those who remain not silent in the face of adversity
to the likes of Fela Kuti, who stirred revolutions and fought for something bigger than themselves
to those who ignite sparks of emancipation in us
to the ones who rip the ulcer that eats and decays our society
I pledge allegiance to our fallen heroes
to the likes of Lt. Col. Abu Ali the vanguards in the quest for our salvation
to the oath keepers who selflessly serve for no other reason than honour
to the chain breakers who fight to restore our peace and to enjoy the glories of freedom
O my people think!
you look blindly and swear fealty to dishonourable leaders
you support the occupation of a people and reprieve yourselves when called to answer for your crimes
you listen to the truth and call it treason because you benefit from falsehood
you walk down paths of wretchedness and call it the path to salvation
O what hypocrisy!
O my people think!
Think!
for I pledge allegiance to you
to humanity, to my people
Ubale is a banker. He wrote in from Abuja