Aside our Creator in Heaven, three things control this World.
The first one is MONEY.
The second is POWER.
The third is POSITION.
It is very possible for a man to have Power in a Community but might not necessarily be wealthy.
Some can also be rich but might not be blessed with Power in the society.
There is also the possibility of a man to achieved both Money and Power, yet will not have Position.
Unlike this modern days, Kingship before the arrival of the Colonial masters was an automatic ticket to gain Money, Power and Position. That was the era when kings were referred to as; “KA BI O, O SI” which was modified as KABIYESI, meaning, “None can challenge” (the Authority).
Kings till date in Yoruba land are still referred to as “ALÁYÉLÚWÀ…..IGBÁ KEJÌ ÒRÌSHÀ which means;
THE OWNER OF THE LAND AND EVERYTHING THEREIN…….Second To The gods.
The Throne of a King in the ancient days is not just a Physical position. It is a Spiritual, Super Natural, Mystical, Aesthestical, Metaphysical and Hereditary position.
It is a Temple worshipped by all Subjects both the Rich and the Poor, the Knowledgeable and the Unwise, The Young and the Old, Witches and Wizards.
In this regard, to check the excesses of the kings in those days, the Grey Parrot’s Egg inside a covered calabash is a reminder to kings of the grave penalty that await them if their Powers are severely abused.
The Parrot’s Egg is a symbol of Forceful Suicidal.
When given to any King that has done the unimaginable act, he would be given just three days to prepare himself and his first son for the journey of no return.
To commit suicide.
In the middle of the night on the said day, when the Owl bird with its bug eyeballs make frightful sound in the forest, the traditional drummer go to the town/village square and beat the death drum for the king to come out of the Palace and to embark on the suicide mission with his Aremo (the first son).
The check and balance system emanated from the Old Oyo Empire and the Oyomesis and Ogbonis headed by the Bashorun were fully in charge of this system.
The System might have been abolished in this modern days but the parrots still lay their eggs in the secluded part of the forest.
This is a reminder to those who oppress the masses with their Money, Power and Positions that all is not yet Uhuru.
‘Yinka Egbeyemi.
