Spirits,The Dead And The Living Will Roam The Streets Of Ado In October.

There would be not several and/or thousands of such a day as October 2, 2017 in Nigerian history.On that dawn-to-dark, spirits and dead people would be awake as early as 6:am to make out with mankind.Since Supernatural beings are more cultured and cured than humans, the first thing on that faithful morning is likely row calls. Anthony Enahoro, the father of Nigerian state and first to move the motion for Nigerian Independence in 1953, would suffer a knock(I don't know where it would come from) on his grave. Waking up from a long time siesta, Enahoro would signal Nnamdi Azikiwe, and, Zik, who was himself a prominent member of the then National youth movement (NYC), and first President of Nigeria would swiftly leave his Onitsha tomb and find his way to Ado-Ekiti. In that order, Obafemi Awolowo would answer to his name. Tafawa Balewa and Ahmadu Bello, both victims of the January 15 1966 coup would not be absent. Ken Saro Wiwa, a non-violent agitator and then president of the Movement for the survival of Ogoni people(MOSOP), who was hanged by the military Government in 1995; would also find his way to Ado flanked by the many Ogoni agitators that were murdered in cold blood.Dele Giwa, a renowned press man and activist, who was assassinated with a media bomb on October 19,1986 would also lead a team of blameless journalists and pressmen who were slaughtered in times past for daring to speak up in times of moral decadence,social and Political injustice; would also be present. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, an activist and Nigerian aristocrat, who stood for women's rights in the 1950s and was later thrown down from a third floor window of Fela's house in the course of the 1978 visit of a thousand soldiers and died as a result, would be seen. Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Gani fawehinmi, a human and civil rights lawyer won't be late on October 2. The innumerable victims of Boko haram genocide would rise and visit Ado.All those children, who died of malnutrition and hunger in the midst of abundance and boom,would find their ways to Ekiti Capital City.The so many Nigerian pensioners, who died of starvation, and bankruptcy, would jet out to Ekiti.The Many Nigerian soldiers who died as a result of being equipped with horse and buggy weapons while the money meant for better ammunition was siphoned, would visit Ado.Nigerian graduates who died as a result of hunger and frustration would also join their living counterparts on October 2.So many accidents were caused by bad roads, and since bad roads are results of Nigerian Leaders' selfishness and insensitivity, Victims of such accidents would also be in Ado Ekiti.The saints and Angels would be present. Blessed Iwene Tansi would be in Ekiti.Joseph Ayodele Babalola would be there and an uncountable multitudes of Angels and spirits in a bid to Identify with Nigerian youths, who would converge in Ekiti for a 100percent violence-free freedom march.Nelson Mandela would be around and Martin Luther king jr,an American civil rights activist; who helped organise the 1963 Washington march before his assassination of April 4, 1968 would not be missing. The about 400 students and civilians killed during a peaceful protest in Tlatelolco in October 2 1968 will visit Ado-Ekiti in solidarity with Nigerian students and the masses who are themselves currently victims of oppression, ache, emptiness, un-employment, thirst, humiliation and bloodbath.

They will help us let know the political class, that their time is up.They will help us tell them we are ready for absolute and honest-to-goodness governance.They will break the news to them, that retirement is around the corner. We can't just continue like this.Something must be done! If we don't rise up we would be trampled on, ride roughshod over, kablooyed, crushed and crunched.The generation before us has failed, so, must give up work and peacefully watch the youths take over leadership, so that we would live and not just exist and our parents enjoy and not just endure life.If Nigerian youths don't struggle for power now, hunger will continue, genocide will not seize, thirst will persevere, Oppression will lengthen and so many ills we enjoy today. The current crop of leaders have done their best, just that it is not enough to take us out of misery and penury. Their time is up and all we need do is tell them we are ready to take-over.We are ready to continue from where they stopped and turn things around.The youths will take over and wipe our parents' tears.We would make life beautiful for the masses and make sure no one goes to bed empty bellied.Those who go about unclad will be clothed, those who sleep outside of shelter will have places to call homes. Children of the poor will make merry and those of the rich will live.The nobodies will become somebodies without knowing anybody. The system of godfatherism will crumble and be squeezed, the new-born will stop crying. War will seize and the drums of terror will be torn. Education will be meaningful and heroes will be celebrated.Literates will work and illiterates will not be good-for-nothing. Employment opportunities will surpass the population and even migrants will come enjoy with us.Governance will be of service and not of luxury and lordship. Students will find fun in schooling and the days of their strength will be memorable. The executive arm will deliver, the hallowed chamber will stop being a tea chop.The Judiciary will embrace justice and life for all will be fair. Civil servants will smile to the banks and business men will stop counting losses. Labourers will be paid beyond their sweat and politicians will stop being demi-gods.Excellence will be rewarded and hard work will be noticed.The health sector will function and hospitals will render best services possible anywhere in the world.Terrorists will see reasons to live and blood baths will stop.Of the many heads in Mogun, those of the guiltless surpass. Non-criminals, who are imprisoned unjustly would have Justice visit them.

So, on October 2 2017, the sun may not rise neither will it set. Rain may not fall neither will clothes be dry.The cloud may not be white, neither will it be blue.There might be no noice nor silence.No merriment nor sadness.There might be no day nor night.No eclipse of the sun nor that of the moon.But the living will join the dead in a freedom march as Ekiti youths will declare Tosin Ajibare, their sole candidate in the 2018 governorship election.Spirits will be lead by angels and saints, Martin Luther King Jr, Awolowo, Zik and those activists we never heard of. Tosin himself will lead the living, flanked by prince Adeyemi, Ojuoluwa Olanrewaju, Alhaji Olowoyo, so many advocates of a better Ekiti and my humble self.It was in October 2 that Theophilus succeeded his father Michael II as Byzantine emperor .It was in October 2 that the Texas revolution began with the battle of Gonzales. It was in october 2 that Guinea declared her independence from France. Do you know, that October 2 is the International day of non-violence adopted by the United Nations in 2007? And above all, St Josemaria Escriva of Opus Dei, saw a vision of "the work of God"in October 2, 1928 and in 2017; it is, without doubt, the work Of God that Youths will declare their independence from ignorance and political irrelevance.It is going to be a day in history. May God Almighty keep us.

Ayeni Faith Damilola is a writer, public speaker and eulogist.
faithdamilolaayeni@yahoo.com