"E lo fokan bale"

Pov- You miss Buhari

It felt just like the day Abacha died. That day you joined the others with your broom ready to sweep away the remnants of his regime. It was a significant day because it was a representation of "a ti gbo lowo suffering".

You remembered that you had just finished your last paper as an undergraduate in unilag. You were studying English education and you were elated even when your six brothers didn't rate the course that much. "I'm going to be a teacher" you had told them unashamedly but their faces carried displeasure with nonchalance etched on the remaining part.

You remembered that you had further added that you would be marrying a pastor and disappointment over took the other emotions and was crowned lord of all even in every family discussions but you had continued regardless.

Back then, life was simpler, and things were more affordable. You fondly recalled buying a bunch of bananas for just one kobo when the value of the naira was stronger.

But times have changed, and with each successive administration, the state of the country seemed to worsen.

"Those were good times compared to now" you had added in the discussion with Dominion,your adopted son.

Yaradua, Goodluck and then Buhari. It felt like the state of things were getting worse with each term.

So maybe it didn't feel like the day Abacha died.

No, it cannot.

You mean the day Tinnubu was declared the candidate with highest votes. No both days are a contrast.Because how can fuel be six hundred and twenty naira now. You can't help but wonder about the state of Dangote's refinery, hoping it would make a positive impact and bring relief to the people.

Catch fire...catch fireeee!!!

Your headache triples thanks to the 80mg of Artemether combined with 480mg of lumefantrine and of course the prayer warrior who can't seem to let go of his enemies.

"Holy ghost"

"Fireee"..... The man stops and you heave a sigh of relief hoping it was the end of the service but you're wrong.

The man shouts again with more force this time

"Holy ghost!" And the backup respond with uniform tenacity

"Fireee!"

You've always believed that our prayer points are often shaped by the nation's struggles and suffering.

Whenever you travel out, it feels like"pe o ti gbo lowo"(free from) suffering. You however, realize that true freedom can only be achieved when everyone in Nigeria could be free from suffering, not just a privileged few.

But you know deep within you that it's a lie.

Now you know freedom means so many things to different Nigerians.

Could be no more "up nepa".

Could be no more "yahoo"

Could be no more fulani herdsmen

Could be the three years ago COVID palliatives or the incoming eight thousand palliative.

Could be Peter Obi, not Tinnubu.

It could even be more money to buy iya shukura's amala and ewedu with ogbufe.

However, none of these apply to you. At least not yet.

You cross your legs in your tastefully furnished duplex in lekki phase one. You will just simply fill up your tank like you do on every other day regardless of the cost.

You had eventually leveled up above four of your brothers and you gloat like a male turkey with it's feathers on display chasing it's owner with the knife he had intended to use to kill it. You've risen above the doubts of your brothers, and this success brings a sense of satisfaction.

You adjust the volume of fela Kuti's beast of no nation and you allowed the lyrics to resonate deep within you.

"Beasts of no nation.How could they come to power?And destroy human relations"

With Fela's lens you can visualize his aim of criticizing corrupt and oppressive leaders who ascend to power and disregard the well-being of the people.

You marvel at how he successfully denounces the dehumanizing actions of these leaders and the damage they inflict on society and finally how he thoroughly addresses suffering in the rest of his songs especially in the song "suffering and smiling".

You switch to Majek Fashek's songs.

You know you can never really"gbo lowo" suffering as a Nigerian.

"Government don serve us premium suffering" you say to your husband knowing fully well that government was just a label to no specific face.

He had just returned from the UK and as he walked into the first sitting room where you are, you remember the day he approached you with a bald,oily head under the hot scorching sun. You were uninterested at first but when the words rolled out of his mouth, you gave in and there you were thirty years in the marriage.

He switches on the television and the newscaster announces what you had already been dissecting in your mind. "The hike in fuel price"

"My dear, looks like we missing Buhari"

He replies an high pitched laughter and you laugh along with him especially when the "E lo fokan bale speech by Tinnubu" comes on.