Oluyomi Ola-David Insights

Give me some fish And I will return for more Get me a net and some lessons And I will return with thanks Give me some words And I will return for more Get me a book and some notes And I will return with thanks  Give me a ride  And I will return for more  Get me a vehicle and some rounds And I will return with thanks Give me a meal And I will return for more  Get me a stove and some game  And I will return with thanks Give me some friends And I will return for more  Give me a family and some time And I will return with thanks Give me a hand And I will return for more  Get me a skill and some knots And I will return with thanks Give me some fruits And I will return for more  Get me a field and some seeds And I will return with thanks Give me a room  And I will return for more  Get me a ruler and some clay And I will return with thanks  Give me a match  And I will return for more  Get me a race and some shoes And I will return with thanks Give me a title  And I will return for more  Get m

No place Like home No sweet Like fatherland No journey Like home No trophy  Like now No mountain Like home No valley Like motherland No wool Like home No warmth Like fatherland No fireplace Like home No cooler Like now No meal Like home No drink Like motherland No market Like home No goods Like fatherland No playground Like home No work Like now No school  Like home No certificate Like motherland No idea Like home No nurture Like fatherland No season Like home No time Like now No work Like home No power Like motherland ... Photo credit: Wikipedia/ Nigeria

As I reminisce on the history of Independence in various African states, the glamour and the euphoria of liberty, with particular interest in the experience of Nigeria – the land of my birth. I am reminded of the celebration that ensued upon the expulsion of Mr. Jones and his men from the Manor Farm in George Orwell’s Classic, 'Animal Farm ’. In a speech motivating the animals to fight for their freedom, Old Major painted on the minds of his fellow ‘comrades’ a picture of a new world, which they could only access and possess after their gaining Independence from the oppressive rule of Mr. Jones and his likes. Oh how they relished the allure of freedom! Freedom from misery and slavery, which comes with an opportunity to own all they would ever produce without fear of external subjugation. Almost overnight every animal would become rich and free! Little did they know, except for the ‘cleverer’ of the animals, that following the eviction of an imposed master and a d