The Nigerian Pledge
I pledge to
Nigeria my country
To be
faithful loyal and honest
To serve
Nigeria
With all my
strength
To defend
her unity
And uphold her
honour and glory
So help me
God
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| Gallant Nigerian soldiers pose for a group picture |
You are the finest resources of Nigeria
You are a special breed amongst her children
You are knights in Khaki
The soul of the lots of us
You have sworn, you have kept by your guns,
the oath,
Lip muttered by civilians
You have kept the oath,
By Guns & tears, by Bullets and Blood
The shedding, behind enemy lines
You are heroes let alone as tree top owls
You gave peace from the war
Saviours in uniform though no songs for your
exploits
Even in death, green & white goes beneath
with you
Thank you for your sweat, blood,
toils and tears. We (civilians) simply have no clue what it means to vow &
pledge one’s life the way you do. From camp to camp this nation has guided your
heart. When we chose comfort within our homes you laid down on fresh grasses on
open fields. The dew anointed your helmet all night, the Crickets’ chirping was
the only sound of melody & Mosquitoes became not just your neighbours but
alarms. Lying lazily on our couch we criticise, we condemn you & tried to
teach you battle plans & formations on Social Media.
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| From camp to camp this nation has guided your heart... Sorry we condemned you & tried to teach you battle plans & formations on Social Media. |
We fled Adamawa you stood, we packed
our bags from Yola you pitched your tents, when Borno was almost lost you
conquered; this is your story, this is your person, and you loved us all the
way. I wonder what you think of us sometimes, I really do wonder, your labours in
the outskirts of the nation without the privilege to sit and to see the city
thrive.
The vision of your kids sticking
around your wife hunts your sight as you steady your aim to fire. The echoes of
your son’s last words, “daddy, mummy daddy, I want to go with daddy”; tries to
deafen you most times as you struggle to listen for sounds of intruders in the
moonless nights. Your wife sobs, she frets over news of fallen soldiers. She
prays with uncertainty, “God don’t let him be among them, spare him, keep him
safe, bring him back to me, please I beg you…” what a cost her personal hero
paid for being a national hero.
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| The vision of your kids sticking around your wife hunts your sight as you steady your aim to fire. |
We can neither know the faintest
whisper of your gallantry nor the value of the gift of your life. Such sacrifice
shames your salary and makes us so inferior standing next to you. In your khaki
there is always comfort, it sparkles under the glory of our sun, reflecting your
large heart for our nation.
On behalf of all civilians scattered across the earth, I
deeply apologise from the depth of my heart. We are sorry for every criticism
& comment you’ve read and heard (if ever you had the time to frivolously listen
to them).
Thank you for ignoring our foolishness, our hatred and our
ingratitude. Thank you for giving us peace
through chaos, thank you for not holding us accountable for the loss of your
comrades. Thank you for willingly handing over power on May 29, 1999. Thank you
for brave stuffs we & the media will never know.
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| Thank you for inwardly wearing the colour of our flag, the green & white, we wear it for fashion trends... Even in death, green & white goes beneath with you. You are full blooded Nigerians to the core. |
All your efforts have not gone unnoticed, your unshaken confidence in a unified nation, your ruggedness through the turfs. Today, one Nigerian stirs up many others to remember and pray for you. I salute you all; you are full blooded Nigerians to the core!
GOD BLESS THE NIGERIAN ARMY
Happy Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Celebrating Gallantry defined in the Nigerian military....
Copyright
Paul Aremooluwa, 2016
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