Yet again another one from the archives...still troubles me greatly when i

 read it....

....And My Heart Wept

Taking a walk through the infamous Tafawa Balewa Square, i couldn't help but imagine what it was like back in 1960 when the Union Jack was pulled down and the green, white and green flag of our beloved country was hoisted for the first time in declaration of our independence. Pictures of that glorious day as i had seen on tv came to me and i tried to imagine the joy it brought millions of Nigerians home and abroad. My imaginations nevertheless, would fall short of the magnitude of celebrations that followed. I moved slowly to take it all in and as i trudged along i couldn't help but notice an elderly man probably in his sixties sitting with his head in his hands. I moved even slower to try and make out why, even though it seemed like he just had his meal, he didn't look particularly happy. Sad would actually understate the look on his face. It was more like a man wondering where his next meal would come from. He seemed to have created a corner for himself at the Square. He had old boxes piled on each other to make a little platform not so large with something wrapped in an old rag that appeared to be his pillow. This platform was dressed up to look like a bed and i started to think. Does this man actually sleep on this 'bed' at night in this place? Looking around i noticed he had a few items lying around that surely made it clear that this was this elderly man's home. Home? Suddenly a thought raced through my mind. This elderly must have witnessed the independence celebration fifty years ago. He must have jumped to high heavens glad at last that he would live the 'Nigerian dream'. He must have had hopes and aspirations as to what our great country would turn out to be in years to come. He must have dreamt of the good life and at his present age, he must have thought how he would have retired and reaped the fruits of his labour with his grand children and great-grandchildren flocking around him. He must have thought quite a lot. But he never would have thought that fifty years on, after that glorious event he probably witnessed in person, he would sit in the same place not knowing what tomorrow holds for him. He never would have thought that when it should be time for him to enjoy the rest of an expectedly fulfilled life he would sit languishing not knowing where his next meal would come from. As i stared at him thinking, i didn't realise i had come to a halt because yet again the situation in my country made me want to cry for my country. The unacceptable state of affairs is no doubt an over-flogged issue. The neglect of the common man and the misappropriation of public funds. And i thought to myself again, how much was spent on the cake used for the independence celebration...and my heart wept.