ATTAINING THE TOP IS NOT FREE, IT COSTS A FEE

By Oyero Joshua

 

“A name without fame is like a fire without flame” –Indian Fables

Ever-wondered why the river to be swam to become head and shoulder is often enmity-infested?

Ever-wondered why those who refuse the anointing of ‘ogas at the top’ face soul-ripping frustrations before attaining their desire?

Ever-wondered why Uncle Lucky have been fighting Uncle Timmy tooth and nail?

Ever-wondered……………?

As a slave to the spirit of creativity, I guardedly wandered in the forest of fiction as to how to represent in fable without being guilty of sedition the on-goings in the political arena in the land.

Lately, many knives of accusations, oppositions, antagonism and immeasurable hatred dangle over Uncle Timmy’s bald head like an axe in the grip of an executioner. Here-in, the embattled number one citizen of Rivers as recognized by the decree they call a constitution (who is fooling who?) is my dramatis personae. The winner of the annulled Wazobia Governor’s Forum election has since for past few weeks been facing hot vissisitude of life.

Unfortunately, like the biblical story of the promising Joseph who was sold into slavery by his own kith and kin, Uncle Lucky has betrayed ethnic brotherliness  and neighbourliness by succumbing to pressures from the ‘gods of his party’. Thus, selling his own brother whose state is just a stone’s throw to his birth soil to the political demand of his mentors. It’s uncharitable to say that for some weeks now, heaven has not let loose on Uncle Timmy. Just as the Pharisees and Saduccees waged war of unacceptability to the innocent young man born by Mary as believed by the adherents of Christ all because of his precocious mannerism, the Yoruba-Ibo born man of Rivers has become an eagle on the altar of sacrifice with the obvious insights ranging from the anti-Uncle Timmy, but intra-party rivalry, the recently annulled Wazobia Governor’s Forum election and the chase given to Uncle Timmy by the manipulated official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Of late, Aso rock has painted the bald big-pauch man of Rivers with the brush of over-ambition, which explains why he has fallen under the surveillance radar of Aso rock because of raging insinuation that Uncle Timmy may due to his obvious acceptability that he enjoys as ‘a man of the people in the Wazobia Governors’ Forum may be a running mate to Mallam Sule of Jigawa, a presumed choice of the pauch-bellied man of Hilton tower in Abeokuta in the years to come whose absence at the just celebrated democracy day connotes rejection of Uncle Lucky’ lousy style of disarming opponents.

Apparently, Uncle Lucky and Uncle Timmy speak two different languages and no magic of translation whatsoever could bridge the gulf of mutual incomprehension that exists between them. The whole episode is one of survival of the most-backed. This, I think is why our ‘oga at the top’ who also doubles as the ‘I’ve got no shoe crooner’ has been mounting hot pressure on Uncle Timmy in the form of denigration which ultimately will lead to the relegation of the Uncle Timmy’s personality in the mind of rightful thinking individual who may thumb-print him if he eventually declares his nascent ambition to run the race for Aso Rock come twenty-twenty minus five. In sum, Uncle Timmy is like a spread eagle on the altar of sacrifice waiting for a Messiah to salvage him. But, the unfolding of the episodes so far reveals that Uncle Timmy is of a tenacious and dogged pedigree with the resistance posture he has assumed since the inception of the whole saga.

Its commonplace for seers to for-see out of sheer clairvoyance the bright days that lay ahead of individuals especially promising ones. This explains why Uncle Lucky and his cohorts in the mafia-form ruling party has discern the radiant political tomorrow of Uncle Timmy and in other to compel him to dis-consider or jettison his yet-to-be-disclosed futuristic ambition in the murky waters of national politics, they resolved to piling frustration on the head of the man hairless at the fore.

To drift away from politics and its intrigues, the fact that there is no monopoly of ambition in life necessitate that success attracts a fee, it’s not free. Winners are winners even if the chances go thinner. They are quintessential symbol of doggedness and radicalism at the pursuit of their lofty dreams. They have the tenacity to defeat adversity.

Hint to know a person’s tomorrow is of majestic radiance is when the atmosphere around is so dense and enmity-infested. Like Uncle Timmy, many are the cut-throat competitions and ill-seated rivalry that we experience on a daily basis especially from contenders.

However, it’s no more astonishment that the air of friendship wear and tears while that of diplomacy and hypocrisy gain ascendancy whenever promotion of deserving staffers in organizations comes to fore. From barbaric manipulation and diabolic use of metaphysical powers to fasting and praying in ancient religious centres, each strives relentlessly to out-wit the other(s).However, I think they have a justification for treading such parts: a portion of the Christian holy encapsulates the preservation of one’s interest in any area of one’s endeavour. Here’s it: The kingdom of attaining the seat at the top suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by force.

Though I bear no reservation whatsoever to the mantra ‘use what you have to get what you want’, but, must it be done at the detriment of others without moral allignment? Not in a country where electoral right has no restrain in as much as a person has the requirement for eligibility to contest for any political post should Uncle Lucky resume defamation and intimidation of Uncle Timmy. Numerical strength in election(though, not all the time) is the best rating of the man of the people.

The spirit of self-forgetfulness is an archaic one that any apostle who crusades it is scorned by the gaze of rapacious persons. We have become excessive in our display of ethical egoism. This explains why government sponsored assassinations and purloin of intimidatingly whopping amount from public treasuries all in the name of guarding one’s interest has been on the rising. We forget that though by the programming of nature a price is to be paid to acquire one’s desire, but the soul-searching question is: ‘What kind of price do we pay for claiming our aim?’. Is it by inditing any perceived contender of our quest?

Our politicians today and many other greedy individuals have thrown away the humanistic spirit. They employ all expediency to immorally out-wit their contenders so as to have the seat at the top for themselves.

To all the Uncle Timmys who suffer from authoritative violence and stifling thorns of sheer sentiments of ‘ogas at top’ at work and in the turf of politics, know this that the most sturdy of strength lies not in physical mightiness, but in willingness to triumph. If you doubt me, ask the renown stouthearted Golliath.

The end is not the end because the lexicon ‘END’ is an acronym that symbolizes Efforts Never Dies!

…Kip da Optimism Alive