By Queen Amina Mohammed (QAM)
Democracy is a river,
flowing through the valleys of history,
carrying the dreams of generations
toward the ocean of justice.
But every river must be watched,
for when its waters grow murky,
the people can no longer see their reflection.
Nigeria stands before a mirror,
not of glass,
but of memory, sacrifice, and hope.
In that mirror stand our founding fathers:
Macaulay, Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello,
Tafawa Balewa, Awolowo, Aminu Kano,
and countless others,
architects who planted trees
under whose shade they knew
they might never sit.
Their dreams were seeds.
Their sacrifices were rain.
Their vision was sunlight.
Yet today, the forest they planted
asks questions of its gardeners.
Where are the looms
that once clothed the nation in dignity?
Where are the wings
that once carried our flag
across distant skies?
Where are the furnaces
that were meant to forge
the steel of progress?
Where are the refineries
that promised to turn
our wealth into prosperity?
Where are the golden harvests
that should have risen
from our fertile soil?
And why do shadows of fear
still walk our roads and villages,
where peace ought to dwell?
Democracy is not merely a ballot box.
It is a lamp.
Its purpose is not simply to shine,
but to reveal.
To reveal truth over deception.
Service over privilege.
Accountability over excuses.
Hope over despair.
A nation does not grow
when questions are silenced,
but when answers are given.
The strongest leaders are not those
who fear the mirror,
but those who dare to stand before it.
As another Democracy Day dawns,
may we find the courage
to look honestly at our reflection,
to mend what is broken,
to strengthen what is weak,
and to build what remains unfinished.
For nations, like rivers,
do not reach greatness by standing still,
but by continuing their journey.
May God bless the heroes of our democracy.
May God bless our founding fathers.
And may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Queen Amina Mohammed (QAM) is a wife and a writer.
