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 </div><p>Poet, novelist and short-story writer, <strong>Ikenna C. Igwe,</strong> is the winner of the April edition of the Brigitte Poirson <a title="CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST 2015 [APRIL]" href="http://wrr.ng/authorpedia/call-for-submissions-brigitte-poirson-poetry-contest-2015-april/">Poetry Contest (BPPC) themed ‘WIND OF CHANGE’.</a><br>
His poem<em> ‘NIGERIA ANEW’</em> was the clear judges’ favorite, scoring 86(85.5%) to open up a 4-point gap between the first runner up <em>‘AWAITING SIROCCO’</em> (82%) by<strong> Adedapo Adeniruju </strong>and<strong> Ogedengbe, Tolulope Impact</strong>‘s <em>‘A HOPE OF CHANGE’</em> (79%) in the third place.<br>
The poems were judged on Structure (harmony of words, presentation, etc) Creativity/Originality and Relevance to the chosen Theme.<br>
April Winner, Igwe, is a graduate of Quantity Surveying and the author of several books inlcuding; Nights and Colors, Kenechi the Honest Boy, Chinedu and the New Yam Festival, and co-author of Quantitative Reasoning with Vocational Studies for Primary Schools, Books 1-6, and Verbal Reasoning with General Knowledge for Primary Schools, Books 1-6.<br>
he has also been published in several anthologies.<br>
He also writes non-fiction books.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Try as we may, no one can divest poetry from politics; we are either looking at the politics of language/form/delivery or the poetics of political movements; what’s been said, what’s being suggested and what’s been heard.<br>
In reading the entries crafted around the recent wind of change in Nigeria, I took cognizance of these expediencies.<br>
While few images (emblems of the contending political class) were bound to be seen again and again, which is forgivable, all of my shortlisted poems were robust on the sheet, but three were especially gratifying when read out loud.”<br>
<em><strong>~ Shittu Fowora, co-judge BPPC 2015</strong></em><br>
<strong>30.April.2015</strong></p></blockquote>
<p>Below are the top 10 poems, with marks obtained:</p>
<ol>
<li>NIGERIA ANEW by Ikenna Igwe (85.5%)</li>
<li>AWAITING SIROCCO by Adedapo Adeniruju (82%)</li>
<li>A HOPE OF CHANGE by Ogedengbe, Tolulope Impact (79%)</li>
<li>WIND OF CHANGE by Kile, Celina Ngohide (77%)</li>
<li>ASO ROCK IS NO MAN’S VILLA by RICHARD BENSON (76.5)</li>
<li>ON WINGS OF CHANGE (ACROSTIC) by GOODNESS LANRE (76.5%)</li>
<li>THE GREAT EXPECTATION by James Jerome Okeme (75.5%)</li>
<li>EVOLVING TO DIE by Nwokoro Prosper (75%)</li>
<li>THE WIND OF CHANGE by Agarau Adedayo (74.5%)</li>
<li>WIND, WILL YOU FOREVER HOWL? by Iwundu Wisdom (73.5%)</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>NIGERIA ANEW by Ikenna C Igwe ikennaccigwe@yahoo.com (85.5%)</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>For dreadful decades, Africa’s brightest sun has remained<br>
Eclipsed in degeneration’s dungeon; coldly caged by<br>
Incessant ice-storms of fiendish jailers; masters of<br>
Mass misdirection; purloining the national treasure and<br>
Callously casting carcasses, as prized trophies,<br>
To the famished and crestfallen citizens – ones that keep<br>
Reeling at the assorted acmes of acerbic skullduggery on display.<br>
But I see the shimmery silver, lining up, and glowing gloriously<br>
Across the halcyon horizon – limpidly lighting up the dark giant;<br>
And with it, the unrelenting and chirpy clouds of change – gathering,<br>
With celerity, to ascend us to our deserved dais of ineffable greatness.<br>
It’s time to tear down the trivialities that segment us –<br>
Shedding our occlusive ethnic and religious garbs; working<br>
Dauntlessly as an untiring unit to usher in a nation devoid of<br>
Social, political and economic barriers; a country<br>
Soused in equity – a realm ablaze with unassailable justice;<br>
Where truth reigns, regally on all fronts, in all forms.<br>
The hour to oust these vermin in power isn’t imminent; it’s now!<br>
Let us channel our ears to the clarion call, stay in sync with the<br>
Prodding within, pave way, and roll out the red rug for the<br>
Accomplished assembly of true, thick-textured transformation;<br>
Assiduous servants, keen on judiciously putting our celestial<br>
Endowments to enduring use; ardent artists, set to<br>
Paint our portrait of a permanently perfect tomorrow.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>AWAITING SIROCCO by Adedapo Adeniruju adedapotreasure@gmail.com (82%)</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>Sound audibly, O gong of change<br>
Let the dumb tell the deaf<br>
Of the running lame the blind saw.<br>
Take a long walk across the aisle of history<br>
A U-turn in the roundabout of time<br>
A little stroll down the streets of our thoughts.<br>
Blow aggressively, O gust of change.<br>
We cannot stay aloof and watch<br>
As the quagmire of mediocrity drowns our wards.<br>
We’re bored of the ironies and parodies<br>
Of the lifeless calculus of their frozen aspirations,<br>
And their wrecking workless walking experiences.<br>
Arrive quickly, O gale of change<br>
Tell our friendly foe, the serial rapist<br>
That the watchdogs are still barking.<br>
The forsaken that forsook his forsaker,<br>
And the lost that forgot the path that leads home,<br>
Should sail swiftly sooner than soon,<br>
Before the sun withdraws its friendship.<br>
Welcome Sirocco, O wind of change<br>
Challenge our divisors and infiltrators,<br>
Who raped us at the back of our back<br>
Because our familiarity lacked intimacy.<br>
We’ve seen the shadow of your absence.<br>
Let’s now hear the echoes of your silence.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>A HOPE OF CHANGE by Ogedengbe, Tolulope Impact fruitfulimpact@gmail.com (79%)</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>On a trip down the memory lane</p>
<p>I remember the day that birthed the mirth<br>
The day when the independence flag flew<br>
To shouts of triumph and a rose-tinted view.</p>
<p>I remember the freedom song<br>
The music of hope on every tongue<br>
The progressive vehicle driven<br>
And whilst nothing was actually given<br>
Surely, nothing could go wrong.</p>
<p>Freedom, after all, was all we needed<br>
But after it was again slavery<br>
For years, we were chained to a khaki<br>
And lived by swords and orders<br>
Oh! where is democracy for the order?</p>
<p>It came to us like in a trance<br>
We voted for our governance<br>
It was again time for the foolish dance<br>
For power has not come to us<br>
It has merely changed hands.</p>
<p>Rains have poured in torrents<br>
And fiery winds have blown our tents<br>
But there is a rising in the sun<br>
Indicating another dawn has begun.</p>
<p>Its wind is sweeping across our face<br>
Sweeping in the name of change<br>
We hold on firmly to the end of the rope<br>
We hold on to the dazzling hope<br>
And soon there shall be<br>
That which we longed to see.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>WIND OF CHANGE by Kile, Celina Ngohide celinakile7@gmail.com (77)</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>My country flag flaps<br>
Swishing amidst threatening traps<br>
I hear the rumbling cries<br>
For change that life denies<br>
Whiffs of chaos leave me a wayfarer<br>
As I beseech a time that life be fairer</p>
<p>Though our emotions are constrained<br>
We feel motions of change restrained</p>
<p>My people are tired as preys<br>
They; now one mouth that prays<br>
Flying flags of change<br>
But! What exactly to be exchanged?<br>
Power? Or the constitution<br>
That binds every institution?</p>
<p>Let us first be transformed<br>
And in us will change be informed</p>
<p>Making bold our rights<br>
Wa Zo Bia and every nation unites<br>
Stopping the constant stream<br>
That pushed us extreme<br>
Now we rejoice<br>
Over our choice</p>
<p>Change has come indeed<br>
And all pledges I pray redeemed</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>ASO ROCK IS NO MAN’S VILLA by Richard Benson richdgov2023@gmail.com (76.5)</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>It was not me who said it<br>
It was my muse who penned it<br>
He said it is his birthright<br>
To pen things that screams like light<br>
And let it pierce cows hides<br>
And dance in innocent minds<br>
Of boys and girls<br>
Through Niger-Benue to Niger Delta<br>
And run in veins of fishes, palm trees and cassavas<br>
We shall hum it like<br>
“Beasts of England” of old<br>
Aso Rock is no man’s Villa.</p>
<p>He had clean notes<br>
Neat works and good grades<br>
Maimed by constant Boko raids<br>
So we mourned Chibok girls<br>
And roasted body parts.<br>
Subtract and add the gains<br>
There is no change.</p>
<p>Under aged-kids voted in accord<br>
Some say cows thumbed too<br>
And worn out umbrella gave way<br>
When change brooms whispered aloud<br>
Aso Rock is no man’s Villa</p>
<p>The globe slept in awe<br>
“he left before the poll’s order”<br>
South and East hissed in solitude<br>
Nigeria wept in gratitude<br>
“Ah, what a man<br>
Gentleman without change”<br>
But Aso Rock is no man’s Villa.</p>
<p>Ninety sixty seven voted too<br>
As politics became poli-tricks<br>
And street name for Ethni-tricks.<br>
Whether you got there<br>
By cows and fishes votes<br>
Whether you are<br>
youth, middle or aged<br>
Whether you are<br>
good, bad and ugly<br>
give us change<br>
or retire to your villa<br>
and join our chant of power<br>
Then you’ll truly understand<br>
Aso Rock is no man’s Villa.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>ON WINGS OF CHANGE (ACROSTIC) by Goodness Lanre goodyylan@gmail.com (76.5)</strong><br>
Once now upon a flight of change<br>
New outpour of the due dews.</p>
<p>Wills wheel on a white winging wing<br>
It is the borne of the nail whitish gift of the pigeon<br>
Nights welcome dawns cuddled in a cloudy pregnancy<br>
Greens spread on green gains of bountiful grains<br>
Surely a new reign of rains is surely sure to reign.</p>
<p>Over the horizons is a pool of promised promises<br>
Failed faith and a featured fret and fright of freedom.</p>
<p>Cold chains of corruption has had this land singe<br>
Hand full of perfect tears of the wicked onion<br>
And hope of a change choked into a poor putrid policy<br>
Nostrils have had the stinking smell stocked with pains<br>
Groans of hope to drown this drought the drain<br>
Eerie voices rent the protruded draught of anguish.</p>
<p>On the wings of change<br>
Nipping the buds of corrupt corruption with no rues.</p>
<p>Whistles of the wind whisper a winged change<br>
I wrestle with symbols and signs for a significant insignia<br>
Night knights struggle for breath in the scare of light<br>
Great light beam breeds breathe the breach of darkness<br>
Sweet songs of change alight the flip flight of feathers.</p>
<p>Over the horizon are springs in rings of oases<br>
Fueled faith and a birth of the future kingdom.</p>
<p>Children shame in the mud the shackles of bondage<br>
Heats of change swell strong afar and near<br>
And there is to this weakness a strong surge of might<br>
News spread of a birth and born dawn of brightness<br>
Glows of happiness harp the mouths of mothers and fathers<br>
Ends to elves of corruption as the wings of change flourish.</p>
<p><strong>THE GREAT EXPECTATION by James Jerome Okeme jamesokeme80@gmail.com (75.5%)</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>Now that the umbrella have found rest<br>
Let’s hope the broom perform their best.<br>
Clean the littered ground without rest<br>
Only then can we say, “THEY DID THEIR BEST.”</p>
<p>We heard voices crying aloud<br>
And to them we gave heed and allowed.<br>
Maybe they will give us what we never ate<br>
And curb the things we’ll forever hate.</p>
<p>Will they change the sky from being blue<br>
Or divert the direction the wind once blew?<br>
Will they work together like crews<br>
Or on the sea of our oil will they cruise?</p>
<p>Hope they won’t play us April fool?<br>
Let’s know what to do now that the moon is still full.<br>
Whether to nip the bud before it’s grown<br>
Or rather face the music with groans.</p>
<p>Hope the new brush will paint a better picture<br>
Who knows?<br>
Hope our mouths shall taste the new wine from the pitcher<br>
God knows.</p>
<p>For this is a new scene<br>
Unlike what we’ve seen.<br>
So, let’s keep our fingers crossed as we have our seats<br>
As they have their seats.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>EVOLVING TO DIE by Nwokoro Prosper nwokoroprosper@gmail.com (75%)</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>This gentle earth is such a flux;<br>
The cavemen stuck with sticks and stones;<br>
And humbly subscribed to nature’s hold<br>
The flaring of gas or fuel combustion,<br>
Were not in their deeds nor dreamt to be.</p>
<p>Their lands were green and less explored;<br>
The eagles smiled, the oceans rejoiced;<br>
But then, the hapless cavemen succumbed,<br>
To widespread diseases and soon an era was gone.</p>
<p>Evolved and darkly wise<br>
The colour of our hearts,<br>
Would never be the same;<br>
We cure our diseases,<br>
Yet stronger diseases bring again.</p>
<p>To inherit the world,<br>
We set ourselves apart;<br>
And reach one another,<br>
With our ‘talking device’;<br>
And build so much weapons,<br>
That we may after all,<br>
Resort to sticks and stones again.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>THE WIND OF CHANGE by Agarau Adedayo tohquality@gmail.com (74.5%)</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>the wind of change<br>
is still unchanged.</p>
<p>Air stained with blood of innocents<br>
Devoured by gothic ghouls,<br>
have been damped with fragrances of cologne<br>
for death was dealt on the night souls waited for change.</p>
<p>On the day we waited for change,<br>
We sang songs that chased war<br>
Into the sodden ground beyond the heavens<br>
But we were chased with spears for the wage we buried.</p>
<p>On the day we waited for the breath of change<br>
They dragged us into the market where skulls and femurs<br>
Are currencies they bartered upon.<br>
We exchanged our bones for null and got death as change.</p>
<p>On the day we gathered beneath open heavens<br>
Waiting for the birth of the prophesy we wrote<br>
We saw them exchange the smile on our faces<br>
With the wrinkles of gloom and dimples of pain—</p>
<p>they tore the future of our children<br>
like rags at the home of flames</p>
<p>they wanked off our strength<br>
till we became feeble like our falling destinies</p>
<p>they stole our dreams<br>
and stole the stories we had</p>
<p>They weren’t like this before<br>
They unchained the wind of terror<br>
But,<br>
The wind of change is still chained.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>WIND, WILL YOU FOREVER HOWL? by Iwundu Wisdom iamwisdom2000@gmail.com (73.5%)</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>Rays of a stagnant sun on wilting petals<br>
Craters of mediocrity postponing progress<br>
Fumes from coughing factories and rusting metals<br>
Mirthful welts on lifeless flesh; the poor man’s portion<br>
Flames of passion faded to wisps of remorse<br>
The earth raped dry by a plaintive sky<br>
Oceans once clear, now to swamps make recourse<br>
Weary lips complain and deaf ears strives to hear<br>
The fate of the spoils now a blessed memory<br>
As wishy-washy flowers warily bend in prayers<br>
And creatures of the earth humble in supplication<br>
Hungry prayers for a better hope, lame supplications for a change<br>
Elements of the earth forsake humanity;<br>
The flames of integrity sway no more<br>
Streams of optimism now flow without ripples<br>
The trodden earth mislay with infertile soil<br>
The air is still, where travelled the wind?<br>
O nature be still, and hear the howl from faraway<br>
A zephyr approaches, wreathing over stagnancy<br>
The flowers straighten, their carpel spread<br>
Finally the wind comes, and with it change<br>
The streams flow again, buoyed by this gust<br>
Flames dance anew, new songs the earth sings<br>
But who could say that this wind of change<br>
Would howl forever, or sooner will sweep us back into grayness</p></blockquote>
<p><a title="SAMSON OLUWATOYIN WINS BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST 2015 [February]" href="http://wrr.ng/authorpedia/samson-oluwatoyin-wins-brigitte-poirson-poetry-contest-2015-february/" target="_blank">Samson Oluwatoyin, a student of the Ladoke Akintola</a> University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria, won the <a title="CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST" href="http://wrr.ng/authorpedia/call-submissions-brigitte-poirson-poetry-contest/">February edition</a> while, award-winning poet and <a title="BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST 2015: ONWUASOANYA CHIKA JONES WINS MARCH EDITION" href="http://wrr.ng/authorpedia/brigitte-poirson-poetry-contest-2015-onwuasoanya-chika-jones-wins-march-edition/">spoken word artist, <strong><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Onwuasoanya Chika Tobi</span></strong>,</a> won the <a title="CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST 2015 [APRIL]" href="http://wrr.ng/authorpedia/call-for-submissions-brigitte-poirson-poetry-contest-2015-april/">March edition</a>.</p>
<p style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center">****</p>
<p style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify;"><a title="CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST 2015 [MAY]" href="http://wrr.ng/authorpedia/call-for-submissions-brigitte-poirson-poetry-contest-2015-may/" target="_blank">Click <strong>HERE</strong> to enter for the May edition of BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST,</a> themed <strong>“A PEOPLE’S HOPE”</strong></p>

 
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