{"id":76456,"date":"2020-10-21T05:48:24","date_gmt":"2020-10-21T04:48:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=76456"},"modified":"2020-10-21T05:48:24","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T04:48:24","slug":"we-died-as-patriots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/articles-opinions\/we-died-as-patriots\/","title":{"rendered":"We died as Patriots"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
By Boladale Adekoya<\/p>\n

Dear beloved,<\/p>\n

If you are reading this, then the ultimate has happened. We have laid
\ndown our lives for the cleansing of the land, we call home, upon the
\nthe ground we were birthed and one whose prosperity clenches the vein of
\nour
\nheart.<\/p>\n

Our death was never planned, all we wanted was the chance to stay alive.
\nForget what some may say about us. They may call us anarchists or
\nrevolutionists.<\/p>\n

Be careful of history classes for those who record us as insurgents and
\nthe mob were weaklings and betrayers who lay in bed with politicians and
\npower-holders when the throats of their brethren and kinsmen were
\nslit by police officers and agents of the regime.<\/p>\n

You see the sanity you enjoy today: the constant electricity, water,
\ngood roads, proper education, people-oriented government, accountable
\npolice system, and a booming economy? We died for those!<\/p>\n

While some stood silent for fear of losing their access to power, when
\nsome took decisions via the prism of partisanship when some allowed
\nreligion and ethnicity to becloud their demand for a better life for
\nthis country, we stood firm amid raining bullets and teargas while hot
\nwater cannon descend on us and batons dot our behinds.<\/p>\n

We were never violent. We stood for decades as government and
\npoliticians deny us our basic rights and amenities. At every turn they
\ntake away all that we laboured for, we did nothing. They pushed us to
\nthe wall and we broke it to create a path. They stole our treasury and
\nlive in affluence and pride while we toil day and night to make ends
\nmeet.<\/p>\n

When we got tired, we took to churches and mosques praying for a
\nmiracle. We did nothing.<\/p>\n

Our children became beggars and life became unbearable. Our doctors left
\nthe country in droves and the little that stayed were told to become
\nfarmers when we complained. Our teachers lived in penury and our economy
\nthey cornered for friends and cronies.<\/p>\n

But in the midst of all these, we sought for a way out. We lost our
\npride and did menial jobs. We slept day and night cursing providence for
\nmaking this nation our lot. Those who could afford it sold properties
\nand vacated the country, the rest of us? We stayed, fasting and praying,
\nhoping for a miracle.<\/p>\n

Comedy and humour became our coping mechanisms. When they flog us and
\nmake life unbearable we make comedy skits and drawings to cool our
\nsouls. While many die, we laugh at our own misery.<\/p>\n

This country you see today became a wild west then, it was all man for
\nhimself. It wasn’t a life we were proud of but we lived to survive. And
\nlike the resilient people the world knows us to be, we survived indeed.<\/p>\n

Everything, we created for ourselves. The government did nothing for us
\nbut we still pay taxes.<\/p>\n

But like every human, there is a limit to endurance. There is a breaking
\npoint and while we hide it for decades, the government found it.<\/p>\n

The police who were meant to protect us became armed robbers. They
\naccost us on the road and demand for our phones, they take us to cash
\npoints and collect our hard-earned money. They look us dead in the eye
\nand tell us to make a transfer to them or they will shoot and nothing
\nwill happen.<\/p>\n

Indeed, many they killed and nothing happened. They end the lives of
\nmany at the slightest argument and maim others just because they could.
\nThey separate husbands from wives and slaughter. They take away children
\nfrom mothers and torture to death. We screamed but no one heard us.<\/p>\n

So we had enough. We took to the streets to demand an end to the
\nbrutality and killings but instead of doing anything, our government
\ndescended on us. They opened fire and killed many.<\/p>\n

We were peaceful but they framed us for crimes so they could stop us
\nfrom speaking.<\/p>\n

We asked for nothing special. We didn’t demand accounts of the
\nbillions they were stealing, we didn’t ask them to do right by us and
\ngive us meaningful country. We only asked for the right to live.<\/p>\n

Beloved, today we have lost many comrades, tomorrow, we may lose many
\nmore. Our lives we have concluded to give to this country so that yours
\ncould have any meaning.<\/p>\n

As they shoot and bury our bodies in unmarked graves. As bullets we pay
\nfor pierce through our bodies and skulls, remember our pains.<\/p>\n

With my last breath, I write this. I hope our sacrifice bring the
\ndesired change. If it does, please cherish this and honour our memories
\nbut if they won and the battle rages on, rise and fight the evils so
\nyour generation doesn’t fail like ours.<\/p>\n

Take up the flag of this glorious nation and wave it in hope. Spread our
\nashes on the Atlantic and let our soul rest.<\/p>\n

We died as patriots beloved, never forget that!<\/p>\n

_Boladale tweets via @BoladaleAdekoya _
\n\u1427<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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