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Ese b’aja mole,
Awo felefele bonu,
Ko je a r’ikun,
Aseni.
Ceiling covers
The space
Filmsy skin
Covers attitude
Of the deceitful.
You know I don’t have any apologies for delving into the archives to bring out some sayings in Yoruba. That is essentially because I have never pretended that I am no other than a Yoruba writing in the borrowed robe of English language.
I always envy those who can flow well in Yoruba. I don’t have much but nobody can say I am jealous of them. But there’s an exception to that. I am always jealous of those people who can write beautifully in both the Yoruba and English languages.
That’s why I will always respect a lagbaja who claims to come from my maternal roots.
To him, I say Iba!
Now to the burning issue of today.
There are conditions and there are conditions. However, most if not all of us tend to prefer the good conditions. Of course, the good conditions are great. But I don’t believe they allow us to know who we should really depend on.
Of course, when the going is good, there will be so many hangers on that we would falsely believe it will continue ad infinitum.
But then,
Nkan t’o ntan
Loodun egungun
Omo alagbaa
Mbo wa
F’akara j’eko
No.matter what
Easy times
Are only
Ephemeral
For instance, let’s ask those we can refer to as yesterday men. That is, those who were relevant, especially politically, in years past.
Those of them who are lucky enough to be wise will not even feel the absence of power. Those are the types that will not even live in government houses, they will ride their own cars,etc. For them, government post is just an opportunity. They believe they are only holding it in trust for the people and.for.some time.
Curiously, those ones are the people who tend to rule very well. We have a ready example in the newspaperman who ruled the state of aquatic splendour in the second republic. As far as I am concerned he is the best administrator ever to rule in the murky waters of Nigeria’s politics. OK he is second only to.the sage!
I can’t help but divert.
But when we happen to encounter trying periods, they are supposed to lead us in our bids to understand people. Yes, we.would get to know that some people are ‘animals dey wear suit’, to use the great Fela Kuti’s words. We will get to know man in the Hobbesian state.
Man could be wicked. Not only that but to the most extreme level.
It is then you’ll know the man or is it animal that’s within a man.
It is during your trying period you will know the stuff your parents are made of. It is then you’ll realise whether your siblings are trustworthy. Even your partner might decide to give you some space to sort yourself out.
Friends, are they still there?
Even you will discover that there is nothing religious about your religious leaders. You’ll see, to your chagrin too, that if you’re the one who will always table your personal issues before some pastor, everything will become topics for sermons.
But it is not too late for you to realise that you should be your own counsellor. All the religious leaders received some training. If need be, do so too.
Apart from you, if you do believe in a supreme being, go into your closet and talk to your God in prayers.
You’ll be surprised at the changes in your situation.
All the best!
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