AS Nigeria marked its 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, paid tribute to the country’s resilience and unity with a specially composed ode titled “Remember, Remember The 1st Of October.”
Describing the lyrical work as her “Word-Rhyming-Flower” to the nation, Musawa wove together history, struggle, faith and hope in her poetic reflection on Nigeria’s journey since 1960.
The poem, shared publicly on Tuesday and sent to News Point Nigeria, recalled the significance of Independence Day and the struggles that followed, including the civil war, corruption and ethnic divides that threatened the country’s stability.
“Remember, remember, the last day of September. It ushers the dawn of the 1st of October. Independence galore for each person, each member, Nigeria is still populated with a ginormous ember. O Nigeria is 65, we agree to guarantee, the flag of the country, the flag of the free,” Musawa wrote.
The minister highlighted Nigeria’s diversity as both a strength and a source of division, urging Nigerians to close ranks and embrace renewal at 65.
“Of all the carnage, what we must not condone, is the divide of religions and ethnicity scorn. For what is this nation, where will we be thrown, if Nigeria divided and we each went alone? At this time, we are 65; Folks now we must atone!” she declared.
Musawa also paid homage to the country’s founding fathers and past struggles for liberty, stressing that contemporary generations must continue in their footsteps:
“Even rebellion is an effort to set thee free. We, protégé, must continue to give to thee, In the path of those who doth walk for Ye.”
The ode closed with words of gratitude to God and an appeal for unconditional love for the motherland.
“Whatever will happen we must look up to God, He giveth and taketh with merely a nod! We must believe in this nation and love it unconditionally. Motherland, I gift you this Word-Rhyming-Flower, signed, sealed and delivered by Hanney Musawa. To every Nigerian… HAPPY INDEPENDENCE!” she concluded.
See full poem below:
REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 1ST OF OCTOBER
Remember, remember, the last day of September.
It ushers the dawn of the 1st of October.
Independence Galore for each person, each member,
Nigeria is still populated with ginormous ember.
O Nigeria is 65, we agree to guarantee,
The flag of the country, the flag of the free.
O Nigeria thine 65, I submit verily,
My soul and my spirit. I submit to thee…me!
_________********_________
Atop six and half-century yore, a nation was born.
In the midst of the West-Coast of Africa’s Horne.
This nation had riches, from millet to corn,
With timber and coal, and black gold of its own.
Its fortune was plenty; its promise was grown,
Its people were filled with such hope; yet forlorn!
Even when this wee nation was tired and warn,
Beauty, goodness and grace would always adorn,
Her face and her lawn, each night and each morn.
Those who saw her birth took an oath and had sworn,
To advance her great throne; protect her from the storm.
Not long from that form, her great fortune was blown,
When the Nigerian land became one combat zone.
The Civil War was a thorn. Nigeria’s unity was torn,
‘No Victor, No Vanquished,’ yet the nation did mourn.
But after the conflict, the Peace-Flag was flown,
Though our country descended to a corruption filled zone.
Some pilfered, groaned, moaned and their virtues were shorn.
We resorted to chaos and then our rise became warn.
But of all the carnage, what we must not condone,
Is the divide of religions and ethnicity scorn.
For what is this nation, where will we be thrown,
If Nigeria divided and we each went alone?
At this time, we are 65; “Folks now we must atone!”
Thank God for our fortunes, and we may be reborn.
Almighty’s plan for this country, to us, is unknown.
But He gave us this nation to each call our own.
Our own is Nigeria… Nigeria’s our home.
_________********_________
Remember, remember, the last day of September.
It ushers the dawn of the 1st of October.
Independence Galore for each person, each member,
Nigeria is still populated with ginormous ember.
O Nigeria is 65, we agree to guarantee,
The flag of the country, the flag of the free.
O Nigeria thine 65, I submit verily,
My soul and my spirit. I submit to thee…me!
_________********_________
Our profane must retain much pain and disdain.
The grand tale of Africa’s urbane terrain.
When we began our great reign, we had much to attain.
But the inane of our journey became a constrain.
Again and again all in this country’s domain
Would entertain our interest to compromise the main.
Nigerians had no restrain to feign our legerdemain.
Through much strain and arraign, the nation we’d drain
By using our internal crane on our jugular vein.
By leaving our country with an abysmal stain.
The grain of our fortune, alas, has been slain,
The bane of our substance doth suffer in vain.
The Nigerian spirit must maintain our restrain,
To regain back our right, to break free from the chain.
We must sustain our humane and use our brain,
To win back Nigeria from a life of insane.
This country is filled with much natural gain,
We each have a right for that gain to obtain.
As long as we contain an intention germane,
This country will rise to the mightiest plane.
May our canker and grime be washed by the rain.
May our country be focused on a righteous lane.
My homeland is sacred, and I must explain,
My love for Nigeria runs right through my vein.
As I write down these words, Oh, this is my campaign,
For this nation to always regain its brilliant mien.
_________********_________
Remember, remember, the last day of September.
It ushers the dawn of the 1st of October.
Independence Galore for each person, each member,
Nigeria is still populated with ginormous ember.
O Nigeria is 65, we agree to guarantee,
The flag of the country, the flag of the free.
O Nigeria thine 65, I submit verily,
My soul and my spirit. I submit to thee…me!
_________********_________
‘Tis an ode of our independence that came with a fee;
The tale of a nation that begged to be free.
My heavy heart; Oh Verily!
Nigeria, thy never on bended knee!
Awo, Zik and Sardauna made a fortress for thee.
Balewa he stood, as did Macauley.
To make Ye as brave as Ye can be.
But thy Babylon-Beasts laid snares for thee,
And spread their nets with cords of glee.
There´s a storm in the affairs of man,
If taken at its stride, it can,
And leads thee into deepest sea!
For those of We who toiled for thee,
We pray to see thee always free.
Freedom from corruption is thy only key.
Even rebellion is an effort to set thee free.
We, protégé, must continue to give to thee,
In the path of those who doth walk for Ye.
Some have followed and some doth lead for we,
To unite this great nation inclusivly and happily.
For our common good we traverse with glee,
To turn our vast diversity into unity.
Continue lifting our nation for all to see,
But the task ahead will be very heavy.
Now forge forth, struggle and win for thee,
Your unending great quest for liberty.
Nigeria, ye off thy bended knee.
_________********_________
Remember, remember, the last day of September.
It ushers the dawn of the 1st of October.
Independence Galore for each person, each member,
Nigeria is still populated with ginormous ember.
O Nigeria is 65, we agree to guarantee,
The flag of the country, the flag of the free.
O Nigeria thine 65, I submit verily,
My soul and my spirit. I submit to thee…me!
_________********_________
Whatever will happen we must look up to God,
He giveth and taketh with merely a nod!
We must increase faith, boost our love and our fear,
Be sincere and revere and adhere to persevere.
We must believe in this nation and love it unconditionally.
Keep our ethos, our culture and our virtues traditionally.
Nigeria is beautiful, our homeland is glorious;
She’s known internationally as somewhat notorious.
Her children are maimed as rather inglorious,
But for 6 and half decades she has been laborious.
And with help from above, she can be meritorious.
So our nation can rise and, at last, be victorious.
Motherland, I gift you this Word-Rhyming-Flower,
Signed, sealed and delivered by Hanney Musawa.
On this fateful day I do wish you all well.
From the tone of my ode, I hope you can tell.
My wish for my nation is Goodness-Attendance.
To every Nigerian… HAPPY INDEPENDENCE!
Written Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa