Kogi is an Old Woman - By Sken Ogu (Toronto)

The sun shines has reflected her dying smile of hope, as the beautiful young mother is growing old and tired of constant act of negligence she had suffered from her previous marriages. Today we have gathered to testify to her suffering and humiliation in our own mindsets. We've all witnessed our insatiable leaders the ways and manners in which they had consumed her special nutrients and render her useless among her mates. The solid express roads they supposed to lay for the state were hurriedly laid inside their stomachs and converted all the public comforts mainly for their familiars and friends benefit. In view of that we have collaborated in spirits to contribute tears and sorrows as marks of purification for those violations.

Therefore, we've not really gathered to celebrate her age or achievements but gathered to celebrate our failure; her failure is our leaders failure since they are the architect of the whole failure. Now we've been sandwiched by the same leaders to celebrate her 25 years of hopelessness, starvation and infertility. Yet deep inside them, they derive absolute joy in disgracing and raping her fragile frame before the world. Kogi State was created and given to us on a platter of gold, but in a naked form. The enduring clothes (resources) endowed by His benevolent God were misused by the politicians, that masquerade themselves as our leaders.

This old woman wearing a baby dress is our wife. This humble woman we've dressed with UN-humble dress is our obedient wife. She is the only woman that renews her marriage vow in every four years with a smile. Yet her marriage must never exceeded 8 years with any suitor.

Kogi state is the newly wedded wife by his Excellency Yahaya Bello. Her adorable new wife is equally our wife. She had breastfed so many politicians in the past that lack complete wisdom yet she never gave up to feed them. This old woman wearing a baby dress is our wife. This our adorable new wife is an old woman but dressed in a shining baby dress, perhaps to tease our minds or remind us our obligations to our state and country.

The new dancing steps introduced by our leaders are meant to showcase our hope and possibility in the face of this deadly hunger. This latest form of dance has limited rules and consideration. It seems the more angrier one dances close to the drum beats the more his chances of putting his fingers deep inside the pot of porridge meant for few. Our leaders have several deceptive tongues in dealing with us and the state. Maybe soon we shall witness and benefit from a special hen that is ready to lay the golden eggs for the public comfort. The celebration of our state shall then be honoured and become meaningful to the poor masses that move about with empty stomachs. It's a celebration inside a celebration! A celebration of sorrow inside the same bottle of joy or the intermingle celebration of both. Hurrah! Kogi state is 25 years of age!