I heard, or did I hear wrong? I didn't know what else to do but I moved further. My feet lagged behind me as though been dragged on the floor. I couldn't connect the dots together but one thing was for sure. If there should be a rebirth, no way I'm choosing Nigeria again.

As a Nigerian army, there a lot of expectations created through fantasies by the mass. You are expected to eradicate crime and save the people. You are expected to be strong and agile. You are expected to never lose a fight because of the title "military".The military that left me wondering, if it was an organisation to protect or a cult to support bad vices.

Our general who I admired most called "Hello, over, is this major Babadare, over".

"Yes, over, over, it is".

“There is a fire breakout near the Kosoko highway to Pakriboto, over, do you copy?”

“Yes sir, over, I copy”

"Over, I want you to solve the case and bring the offenders to the barrack unscathed, over".

"Over, Roger that, over".

Within some minutes, I found out the cause of the fire. Precisely, fifteen commoners were burnt and some were still burning. I moved to save the lives, another call was placed through to me by the admiral.

“Over, major, do you copy?”

"Yes sir, over".

"Leave that position and move to save the live of the owner of the building, over, do you copy?.

"There are commoners waiting to be saved here sir, over".

“Will you be able to bear the consequences, over, do you copy?”

"Over, I copy, over".

I have no choice but to save the owner of the building. Through my prosecution, he was involved in a money laundery with the general. To cover up their scheme, they burnt the whole building along with some workers. They put the blame on the dead ones with the hope of enjoying the wealth later on. 

In between was I who received the orders to leave the commoners who were tagged as offenders. I was to testify to the criminality of the commoners with some evidences created. It was too much to bear because my conscience was at tug of war. I thought, the eradicators of social vices are now the backbones. Is Nigeria still safe? I thought, or did I hear wrong?

©️ Unwavering pen

--- 24/12/24

Part 2

Welcome to Nigeria, where there is a reason to everything. When you think you are getting it but you are not. When you seem close but it's just an end of a beginning and a beginning of another end. When you think you're clarified and satisfied but will still be confused as not convinced enough.

I thought until the general beckoned on me and explained what really happened. Nigeria is healthy but some of its citizens are sick. I was there thinking the citizens died with no justified reason.

"I know a lot of things is running through your mind".

"Yes sir".

What you investigated is not what it is".

"Yes sir" thinking that he was a hypocrite.

"Well to clarify things, take this file and go through it".

"Yes sir" and I left.

I found out that the dead commoners were actually criminals. They threatened the owner and wanted to scoop some money of him. The owner didn't succumb to their wills and they set his building on fire. They wanted to kill him in the fire but their plan went southwards which engulfed them also in the fire.

That was how I concluded that we don't have to make Nigeria great again because it is already great. Are the citizens great or making Nigeria great?.

©️Unwavering pen

--- 24/12/24

Crafted by my strong imaginary view.