Our future is being traded by those that be
Our teachers, under someone’s instructions
Told us that the governor is being slandered
That he was shown on a video collecting bribe
So people will think he is corrupt, though a good man
What is bribe and what is corruption? We do not know
They preach to us and coerce us to carry placards
They wrote what they want, we can barely read what they wrote
We have no idea of the implications of our actions
Our parents are poor, we have little choice
We are children, we attend a public school
If we had a choice, we would be in private schools
Because public schools are ignored by the government
Public schools are dilapidated and congested
There are neither chairs nor tables in the classrooms
The ceilings are damaged and the floor is bare
We have no textbooks and our uniforms are tattered
We know, we can’t compete with our mates in private schools
Not because they are more intelligent than us here
But because the government is not concerned about our future
Where are the lawyers and human right activists?
Where are the Ulama and elders of the town?
Where are journalists who dare speak the truth?
Where is the Ministry of Education and SUBEB?
Where are the representatives in the State House of Assembly
Where are the politicians in the opposition?
Our writers, what has happened to your pens?
Who will stand for us?
Someone should fight on our behalf
We need sound education like all children
We want to grow up as educated and responsible citizens
We want contribute to nation building like other children
But we can’t be anything worthy if our schools are bad
We may end up as thugs of these politicians who
Today are trading our future to protect theirs.
Who will stand for us?
October 27, 2018
