CRY OF THE VICTIMS

Behind this negligence and contempt,

I sight the hand of nepotism and tribalism

But when shall this wheel ever land?

When shall the minority have a fair share?

When shall the government be for all?

Before the world,

We bear the mask of one indivisible entity

Masking the cancer of ethnic and tribal sentiments.

Ours is the unity of a twin palm kernel

Separated by the wall of ethnic sentiments.

What is our crime?

None ‘cept our place of birth,

None ‘cept our odd tongue among them

None, ‘cept the wind of corruption

That blows the treasury into private pockets.

Alienated, we are the victims!

We are the victims of ethnic prejudice,

The preys of ethnic bigotry;

Home is not home enough,

We run from “our own”

Seeking fortress and succour among aliens.

By Etim Bassey Onyam