Ekiti State: An ex-Corps Member’s Poetic Farewell

Here I am,
At Ayetoro town,
Moving down to the ancient city of Ilorin's Afonja,
The multiethnic hometown of Emir Sulu Gambari.
In the car where I currently sit like an Omoluabi coming back home after a victorious battle with the tormentors of peace in the frontiers of his homeland,
In recognition of the Lord's infinite blessings bestowed upon His creatures, I doff my hat while sipping my Bitter Lemon.
Here is a joyous chap whose journey into the wilderness of life began a few decades ago thereby moving him in zigzag towards the territory of the people whose clamness birthed every champion.

Ado-Ekiti, a city of greens and blues,
Lies— in magnitude— a few kilometers away from Professor Niyi Osundare's Ikere.
When, I read Osundare's name on the columns of one particular newspaper or the other,
Like a soldier who goes to a warland fully prepared,
I prepared my mind to peruse through the beautifully crafted words of an iconic poetry maestro!

And, as I, sitting somewhat distracted beside my 'trip companion', got a call from a colleague... In the meantime, let there be good 'network' of communication, please!

And, dear curious reader of my piece,
I got thrilled by the beautiful weather that welcomed our convoy as we, in unison, passed through Ayedun.

And, as it's widely said, ‘after all, life goes on... and on!’
As I have successfully completed my Service Year in the hospitable State of Ekiti, life goes on!
There's absolutely nothing under the sun. Such is life. And, guess what? Life goes on!

To the people who thought I deserve their attention,
Those who created time for me to pour my myriad of thoughts in theirs,
Those caring men and women I met at The Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti,
A prestigious institution of higher education and training that faces Aare Afe Babalola’s ABUAD,
I say thank you a thousand times!

To my friends who, directly or indirectly, have gotten a palace-like place in my heart,
Many cheers to our not-too-far-fetched friendship.
It's like a flower that blossoms day and night!
May the favour that comes with the labour market be a source of soccor, jubilation and for us and, indeed, to our problems, may it be a sustainable solution.

For the love of good, country, and humanity,
Adamu Danjuma inscribes this tribute while—finally— hanging his pen somewhere atop the main gate of Omu-Aran’s Landmark University.