By: Ibrahim Sofiyullaha Olaitan
The belief, from the onset was that the supremacy of the traditional rulers is infinitely immense. History did a good job at painting them all as perfectionist demi-gods whose influences exceeded the terrain of physicality.
Then, the affairs were either you take it or you are taken. The Obas’ rule were aided by their diabolical and spiritual edges. The kings do not suggest or wish, their speeches were but orders and decrees. Every limb must bow at the rise of their feet.
But when the Oba of Lagos fled his highly-revered palace for days during the COVID19 palliative-loot commotion, and the Ooni of Ife latest humiliation from his ex-wife, who fearlessly took the throne’s linen outside to wash are indication that it’s either the world has evolved past the traditional cultures, or the Irumoles have severed ties with their descendants.
Or possibly and most likely, we had been fed with fallacious superstitions.
No matter how you do the math, all equations shall lead to the fact that the traditional rulers are just caretakers of society properties, custodian of authority, and mere trustees trusted with the duty of ensuring the prevalence of egalitarianism in communities. No other strings attached.
Besides, heaven did not fall when the righteously chosen then-Emir of Kano was dethroned by the democratically elected political officer.
Come to think of it, with which mouth will His royal highness of Ile-ife bless new marriages of his subordinates as he may be called upon, as the king, considering that he has been monumentally shunned by success in his three take-ons on matrimony.
In essence, we can all come to the conclusion that the Obas and other cultural leaders are precisely and concisely just traditional celebrities encumbered with para-leadership ordeals.
Majority of the populace had some inklings of fear and doubt when the now imprisoned freedom fighter and self-acclaimed activist, Sunday Igboho was still free. Igboho was confident of his extra-teresstial power.
He mouthed it high and threatened to down tear the sky. He boasted to make life out of the unliving. He dared the confrontation of military, berated their arsenal of mechanical and chemical weapons. His belligerence was frightening scary.
But hey, he fell at the slightest of challenge, running cowardly beyond the border where he would later be arrested for illegal immigration. Sunday Igboho in his might is breathing oxygen now behind the bars.
Alas! Juju is real, effective but inefficient. Else, it would have been hijacked by people hungrier for absolute leadership, by community of people more treacherous and more mischievous– Westerners.
The truth is that our people are not so good at being good or being bad. The significant successes they can ever and mostly beat chest on of their witchcraft are mainly how a neighbor’s aspirations were shattered. Or a cannibalistic-styled stunt of ruining someone’s life to enhance another’s.
One moment of pettiness in a typical Nigeria home and you may be gifted your doom. That, however will not shade the fact that no black magic can win you a world war or protect you from nuclear attacks.
No witchcraft spell can shield you from the tentacles of chemical armories. Then what for?
Therefore, it is time we aligned our senses in order and see the way of the world. Our years of black magic has done nothing for us but leave us in the dark. The reason why the village people will always remain in the village.
The new pathway to the front line is technology. Only technology can defeat another technology. The earlier we get the message, the better.
Top religious countries like Asian Islamic states, Israel are not leaving it all for their Gods. They are respectively backed with sophisticated arsenal packed with up-to-date weapons.
