ASUU IS AN IDEA

The struggle has come this far
We must not retreat an inch
Be steadfast
Be strong
Be resilient

Knowledge dispels fear
So said the chair
When fighting a bandit
Behave like one, said a Sociologist
Be the last bastion against tyranny

The struggle is existential
It is either success or doom
We either fight on or perish
A senseless and clueless government
Need a place on the ground

ASUU is an idea
It can’t be banned.

August 22, 2022

I AM A LECTURER

I am a lecturer and I am not ashamed
I am on strike to ensure my existence
the existence of a sane and great society
a society that is rational and productive

The future of my nation is at stake
some oppressors have taken over its soul
they’ve turned my country into a milk cow
squandered its resources and embezzled its riches

The nation has become so docile and submissive
shrouded in sold ethnic and religious bigotry
every sector has been destroyed without remorse
the leaders are not concerned about our fate

I am on strike and I am not ashamed
called names by the people whom I’m fighting for
I have been punished by hunger and poverty
I promise I will not go down nor give up

I am entitled to a good salary
I am entitled to good working conditions
I am entitled to be respected by all
I am not ashamed to fight for these rights

I chose to join this noble profession
I choose to stay and make a difference
I choose not to run away even with options
I am a lecturer and I am not ashamed

Let all Nigerians know
let the irresponsible government note
we have not come this far to abandon the battle
we will remain the last bastion against tyranny.

 July 1, 2022

 

I AM SORRY

 After Stan’s Apologies

 

It is our inner “beingness”
That made us that different
It is an invisible but real strength
To say I am sorry is short and soft
The weak will never be able to say it
Those of us who apologize
Present the homo sapiens in us
Those who are too weak and ego-ridden
Whose tongue cannot apologize

Present our evolutionary origins with the beasts.

 
April 11, 2022

YES MR. PRESIDENT, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Yes Mr. President, Enough is enough 
Because you don’t seem to be yourself
A total stranger to Nigerians who voted for you
Not the man we thought will deliver the nation
Enough is enough, Mr. President
Because your favourite ASUU is black painted
You don’t seem to know what is going on
Mr. President, we are the same ASUU of pre-2015
We are those patriots who care for this nation
We are still the light of the nation
We are not the agents of darkness.

Yes, Mr President, enough is enough
Enough is enough because it is enough
It is enough because we too are tired
Tired of always closing our classrooms
Just to remind the government of its job
Tired of making sacrifices for the nation
Tired of being accused and abused 
Tired of being punished for saving education
Tired of being starved for insisting on truth
Tired of being disgraced by governments
Tired of insisting on saving Nigerian universities

Mr President, enough is enough
Because we have not come this far to give up
If you want students to go back to school
Be informed on how far we have come so far
Get the facts, the truth and the reality
Come back to the world Nigerians are living in
Mr President, be yourself, the real you
We know who you were and what that meant
When you become you, strikes will be history
We look forward to meeting people’s president.
The one we voted for in 2015, Yes, Mr President

 July 12, 2022  

IF THERE WILL BE FREEDOM AND RIGHTS AT ALL…

 For Idrissa Gueye

Freedom is often invoked
so also human rights
when the monsters wish to bully
the rest of the world.

Freedom to choose
right to be oneself
are always a convenient card
to intimidate the world

The shameless mouthful powers are
trying to usurp humanity’s right to be
we must accept their right to be them
but we can’t be us until it suits them

None should have endless freedom and rights
where other’s rights and freedom are denied
if there will be freedom and rights at all
let everyone be free to be and right to express it

May 28, 2022

10:51 am
  

LET EUROPE FIGHT ITS WARS

Futures of humans destroyed
ocean of blood shed
fortunes lost
hearts broken forever
fighting European wars

When Europe fights
it takes the world with it
the World has fought European wars
all the so-called World Wars
are in fact, European Wars

Let Europe fight its wars
Let the World live in peace.

(Inspired in a dream, 6/4/2022)

I WOULD RATHER GO WITH THE BEAR

The howling of the wolves
the vulgar laughter of the hyenas
beating the drum of bloodshed
coercing the world into a conflict
they created by their arrogance

Why must their enemy be ours?
Mandela taught us to love
those who stand with us in pain
let everyone mind his business
I would rather go with the Bear

(Inspired in a dream, 6/4/2022)

THE WORLD IS TIRED

Accounting for less than one-fifth of the world
Very small in population and landmass wise
Always calling themselves International Community

They dictate to the majority with rude arrogance
They set moral standards that they never have
Flooding the world with their media organs

Labelling and accusing other nations of crimes
They show the world how to commit
Using the garb of freedom and democracy  

They use the human-right card every instance
To interfere in other countries' internal affairs
Abusing the same rights they preach to protect

They abuse the freedom of people to be free
Invading and toppling governments around the world
The Middle East, Latin America and Asia still bleed

Their double face, shameless brutality has no bounds
The world has now understood the trick
Hold your human-rights card oh the West

Let’s every nation define its human-rights
Let’s every nation define its freedom and protect it.
The world is tired.

March 26, 2022

 

 

ZELENSKY

 Years of acting on stage
Makes the world a comedy
Life itself is a comedy

When the lives of millions
Are under your watch 
Do not poke the Russian Bear

March 18, 2022

WOMEN

Women are us

As we are them

They are from our ribs

We come from the wombs

God said we live together

In love and with patience.

SOCIAL MEDIA

 A global market square

Of unlikely room mates 

A place where private life

Is willingly exposed.

May 28, 2020

Contents

 

My new poetry collection just released (October, 2021)

 

HOW MUCH BLOOD IS ENOUGH?

The land in the Northwest is fragile
Its people swimming in ignorance
Willingly pauperized by its leaders
Hated by others for being extremely poor
In a land of great abundance and vast land
With thousands of prospects unattended to

Each zone has its battle and is fighting
Ours is almost a lost battle, we are doomed
Who stands and speaks for us today?
So many big names, big people doing nothing
So many great minds, intellectuals still struggling
A huge population left at the mercy of bandits

We have been reduced to a zone under unceasing threats
Bandits on motorbikes carrying AK 47 rifles
Raid and ransack our villages and rape our girls
Kidnap poor people for an impossible ransom
DOING IT at will whenever it suits them
Because nobody stands for us, we are sacrificed

What are our sins in this country, I ask?
How much blood is enough to atone our sins?
From the killing fields of Zamfara to Birnin Gwari
From the murderous spots of Southern Kaduna, Katsina to Sokoto
Innocent people already pauperized are being massacred
Their blood means nothing to those who lead

What are those political office holders in Abuja doing?
What are they doing in our Government Houses and Assemblies?
What are traditional and religious leaders doing?
What are our activists and human right fighters doing?
What are you doing to change the status quo?

So much blood has been shed and still being shed
As if the lives of our people mean nothing to us all
No life is better or more precious than another life
Nobody will fight for you and me, be sure of that
Nobody will do anything about this wanton destruction
We have to stand for us and speak for us.

Demand that those who hold political offices to act
Demand that the security outfits do their job of protection
Demand the religious and traditional leaders to act
Demand social media warriors to shout at the top of their voices
You, whatever position you hold, do your own bit,
 Start NOW.

June 11, 2020
 ©

GEORGE FLOYD

Don't talk to me about

Freedom and democracy anymore. 

The body of George Floyd

Has said it all.

May 31, 2020

CORONA VIRUS

Science and virus at the crossroads
Despite man’s technological height
In spite of the economic might
Human’s superiority is questioned
In the face of the rise of the microbe

I have never seen humans so scared
An organism so petite, our eyes cannot see
Yet so humbling, it has made mankind
Like the black death of the medieval past

Life is threatened by this frightening virus
Humans are surely not folding their arms
We are fighting back with all it takes

Our existence on Earth is not negotiable
We will not succumb to corona’s wickedness
We shall outlive the outbreak and contain it.
So, help us God!

March 1, 2020 (12:56am)

THE BLACK OWL

Blue sky appears reddish at sunset
Milk powder crooks dark when burnt
When an emperor is encircled by schemers
All is lost without notice or warning
Ignorance chops away wisdom and wit
It breeds arrogance and blinds the heart
What a pity, a city and its people doomed
Its emperor is acting wild dog, barking loud
Now a wounded lion roaring with indignation
I saw him climbing to the tree top like a monkey
The black Owl is skyward, soaring in the air
One of its wings has broken…
It did not notice it!

© Yusuf M. Adamu, 2019 (8:34pm. Dec. 10)

KANO CITY WALL

What is Kano without its city walls?

Built centuries ago with a sense of grace

It is our identity and cultural achievement

So imposing, intimidating, a grand monument

It is our pride and collective memory

Today, a gray shadow of its grandeur

Kano is naked, without its city wall
So are all of us.

August 6, 2019

WHO WILL STAND FOR US?

 

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

STANDING ALONE

There it is standing, looking lonely yet imposing

From one perspective, it appears majestic

Getting all the private space it needs

No competition but only shrubs at its mercy

From another perspective, it looks depressing

Left all alone by its self, devoid of friends and relatives

No one to talk to or share laughter and joy

As if abandoned by all other trees of its kind

But who could tell this big Baobab’s point of view

I wish, I were a tree to ask this big sister how it feels

To be left alone on a wide landscape like this

I can l only imagine what it meant to her.

TRUMPMANIA

A lion will always be a lion and nothing more or less

Lions are territorial because they are afraid to be challenged
In an open savanna every animal compete for best niche
But not in a country built and developed by migrants of all kind
That offer succor to those persecuted and those in need

We begged the world to let Trump be because he was elected

As democrats, we follow the majority even when we disagree
But the world should have nothing to fear from this wild one
He is now in the phase of voicing out and acting practical
But gradually learning what is possible and what is not

Some countries were banned from entering the God’s own country

They are carefully excluded because they are Muslim and assumed violent
Every good Muslim knows that the faithful shall inherit the Earth
And that the Earth is big, vast, abundant and belongs to mankind
So, allow them to close their gates, turn to God for succor and help

After all is said and done, the truth shall triumph over falsehood

No country is an island in this globalised world of amazing intrigues
Whatever happens in life before death, life will have to go on anyway
So be patient, oh those who were banned from entering the US of A
Let’s see how democracy can address this madness called Trumpmania!

TRUMP'S TRIUMPH

Against all odds and brutal opposition

The Lion has won the American election

What a great shock to the liberals and establishment

Trump was demonized by the mainstream media

People hated Trump for his unguarded utterances

Many say he will be a disaster to World peace

Trump said again and again and again
To him America is first, second and third

If he meant what he said, that’s great for the world

His supporter’s said he will make America Great Again

Whatever happens or will happen on the US streets

Trump has won US election, he is America’s choice

This great democracy should be democratic

And respect majority American’s choice!

Let Trump be!

November 14, 2016

EVERLASTING LOVE

You should know that your love in my heart is immortal

Your love shall remain until the pyramids turn into dust

Neither wind or heavy rain, nor the rising and setting sun

Can make the love I have for you ever go away anytime

This is a promise I made to myself, to you and to God

In this life on earth and in the afterlife and beyond that.

 

June 16, 201  

CELL PHONE

At the airport departure lounge
Tens and tens of passengers waiting
The old and the young passengers
The male and the female waiting
Some busy talking to their company
Some calling for God knows how long
Many, immersed in their What’s apps and face books
Two big thumps kept active right and left
Punching key points, scrolling the screen
Busy sending or replying messages
Their two hands doing all the punching
See how the cell-phone get people clued
Cell-phones and our fingers bonded for life

16-08-2015 @ NAI Airport Abuja 12:04 noon

WE CROSSED THE BORDER

When they stopped us at the border
They could only stop our physical frames
But they cannot stop our imaginations from crossing
On the wings of imagination, we flew across the border
We landed in Adare and trekked its streets
We met its beautiful people and inhaled its fragrance
We were at the border, we crossed the border
For no immigration hullabaloo could ever stop us
We are now good to go, to go back home
For us, it is a mission accomplished!

27/08/2015

Nigeria-Niger border, Maigatari)

Who is in charge?

The world's greatest power and democracy
Is today under the grip of a horrendous spell
The emperor and the empire are in trouble

One wonders who is in charge in the empire
The venomous snake whose Trojan horse is active
Or the emperor whose silence is yet to be understood?

What happens to Caesar when the senate's loyalty is elsewhere?
For the greatest democracy in the world,
The tragedy is great and monstrous

The empire is under a poisonous spell
It needs true citizens to break this damning spell
Loyal citizens to whom the empire is first, second and third

Citizen who will save the empire and the world
Not those whose loyalty lies somewhere else
God bless the empire!

February 2, 2015

MUHAMMAD

 

Muhammad is the benefactor of mankind

He is like the Sun that never fails to rise

He is like the Stars adorning the night sky

He is like the air we breathe and the water we drink

Let the ignorant and the arrogant indulge in their cowardice

Muhammad is our Earth, our Universe and our Life

We will always love, adore, respect, value him without END!

 

January 14, 2015

 

BRING BACK OUR GIRLS

Nigerian Government always has a way of getting away with
Its incompetence, negligence and thoughtlessness
But the climax of Nigeria’s Government insensitivity
To the sufferings, frustration and helplessness of its citizens
Was reached with a horrendous kidnapping saga
Of innocent girls pursuing their final examinations at Chibok! 

Now that the World have seen what the situation really is
No one is left in doubt about the sorry state of things in Nigeria
A nation of failed leadership and hopeless people
Even the self appointed International Community is angered
By the insensitivity shown on the abducted girls
Mr. President, luck is no longer on your side anymore 

Bring back our girls and clean your mess!

UKRAINE’S LITMUS TEST

Wonders they say never end

Today I heard president Obama

Talking about International Law

He argues, Russia’s activities in Crimea

Are against international law

I marvel, where international law

Has gone when Obama’s America

Act against reason and international law

Displaying immorality of the highest order

And invaded Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya

Is there any international law left to respect?

When world powers and their friends break it at will

Today, international law is back

The great bully of this world is crying victim!

This world is full of wonders.

February 4, 2014

P5+2?

This is a tale of two adversaries in this weird world

One has amassed nukes enough to annihilate the planet

The other trying to enrich uranium for peaceful means

This is a tale of two adversaries in this weird world

One has closed its doors to UN inspectors and goes scot-free

The other is under crippling sanctions despite allowing inspections

This is a tale of two adversaries in this weird world

One has not invaded any country for two centuries

The other has invaded many countries and still occupies some

The doublespeak and cowardice of so-called world powers

In addressing the problem of these adversaries

Amaze all intelligent and civilized homo-sapiens

But between the labeled axis of evil and the great Satan

The world will have to make decision for peace or war

For injustice in all disguises remains utterly injustice.

November 25, 2013

Endless Colonialism of Speaking in Tongues

Author: Yusuf M. Adamu

Reviewer: Adjekpagbon Blessed Mudiaga

Publisher: Adamu Joji Publishers, Kano

No of pages: 69

Yusuf Adamu’s They Can Speak English, is a philosophical poetic periscope and sad reminder of the negative aspects of British socio-cultural linguistic imperialism and post-independence maladministration of the powers that be in Nigeria till date.

The 69-page book contains 55 poems that evaluate different linguistics, administrative, social, national and global issues, via the windows of medical geographical compass, barometer, wind vane, history, weather and climate skins in the mallemaroking blood of poetry.

Like an angry thunder questioning the audacity of Irokos, mahoganies, and obeches domination of other beautiful shrubs in a forest, the author makes mockery of those neglecting their mother tongue and speaks phonetics as if there are hot crumbs of yam burning their mouths. The medical-geographer cum poet takes swipe at those who claim to be civilised because they can pronounce English words properly in a delicious manner as if speaking in tongues.

Therefore, in the poem titled They Can Speak English, Adamu satirically says: “If you speak English / You are civilised / Praised, recognised / And respected / With a fluency that didn’t / pronounce people as feople / Action as haction / Mother as moda / One becomes an English man in black-ear / But in England / My Pronunciation, they bother not / My grammar they care not / If only they could understand me / I communicate well / But why should a black-eared red-ear one / Be so proud to speak English / Even at the expense of mother tongue?…”

From the foregoing, it is clear that many Nigerians are more English than the English people. This phenomenon of English ‘Mungo Parkism’ is very glaring among various electronics media houses’ newscasters in Nigeria. Sometimes, you wonder whether news was being relayed by foreign newscasters on channels of some Nigerian television or radio stations, as they speak through their noses as if drowning or gasping for breath in a fumigated room. But you would be taken aback at last when the newscasters name is also anglicised with English phonetics that makes you wonder it is a new type of African-English vernacular name.

Adamu says you cannot be an original English person by speaking in a gallivanting manner like a drunken parrot, English phonetics-wise. Hence, he further offers in the same poem above that: “You are only complete when you are complete / So, be proud not because you speak English / Be proud only if in your mother tongue / Be it Hausa, Ashante or Berber / Swahili, Masai or Kwa Zulu / Sango, Yoruba or Arabic / You can think and express your thought”.

However, the poet recognises the importance of English language as Nigeria’s official language. But his bone of contention is that, inability of any non-English native to pronounce some English words properly should not be seen as a sign of illiteracy; as someone who is not fluent in English could be articulate and literate in his mother tongue, which is also a veritable vehicle for communicating, as long as the audience could understand him. This is the major goal of communication- to share meaning and understanding, not borrowed phonology.

Another notable poem in the collection is the one titled Global Village. The author wonders about the deception of globalisation, when racism and class struggle are leopard spots that continue to make some races second class people. Hear him: “Though we are all human / We are made to be different / By forces beyond our clout / Yet they want to remake us / In a new image of their choice / In a village too big to be safe / The world they now call / A single village in the globe / With a big brother to match / As long as we are second class / Within that large village fashioned”…

Nearly all the poems in the volume are blank verses. Only the poem titled Mathematics has quintet ‘even rhymes.’ It is a poem of just five lines. Another piece that contain scatter-graph of ‘even’ and ‘alternate’ rhymes laced with serenading rhythm, is titled The Impossible.

The most common figure of speech in the entire verses is simile; while the asset or style of the poet is his didactic simplicity enrobed with historical allusions to past and contemporary happenings in political administrations, social order and disorder, lamentation and thanks giving to God and personalities with mutual philosophical onions.

In spite of the author’s grievances against some people belittling and claiming superiority over others who cannot pronounce some English words properly, he makes a clarion call for peaceful co-existence in the second to the last poem titled ‘Friendship,’ thus: “So break all the chains / Smash all the complexes / Dismantle all the iron curtains / That prevents friendship from blossoming among men/…”

In conclusion, the poet persona hopefully look forward to a brighter future for all, by wrapping up the volume with a piece titled ‘Optimism,’ as its last four lines offer in the likeness of all Nigerian commoners singsong as follows: “Yet we are very hopeful / Very hopeful people / We are optimistic / Things will one day improve.” This has been the expectation of the masses for centuries. Only God knows when things will improve as the masses wake up from one nightmare to another.

Adamu is an Associate Professor and Medical Geographer, who lectures in the Department of Geography, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. He has published bilingually in Hausa and English. His works in Hausa language include ‘Idan So Cuta Ne’; ‘Ummul-Khairi’; ‘Maza Gumbar Dutse’ and ‘Kwaryar Kira’ (which he co-edited) he was chairman of Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA) Kano State chapter, twice (2000-2006 and 2009-2010).