HE TRAVAILS OF THE FLINCHING YEARS…CONT’D.

By Opurum Timothy

See, I am never afraid of whatever you want to do to me, king! For we have suffered enough in this community. What have we not been made to undergo in this land; what have you and your evil men not subjected my family to? You accused my mother of being responsible for the death of her own dearly beloved husband and then banished her from this community for which she almost lost her life in the process of fighting for the liberation of the female folks from the dehumanising ordeals which they were subjected to undergo by the land of Aluchie after the conquest of our people long time ago. Whereas, you, and these god-forsaken elders connived with yourselves to terminate the life of an innocent man who, like his wife, fought assiduously against injustice perpetrated by you and the members of your family. Also, after you had murdered him, you, in collaboration with some other members of the community took away the land which he inherited from his father, our late grandfather and shared it amongst yourselves. You all know that his presence in your occult meetings will retard your progress in carrying out your nefarious acts.

Elders of the land, (as he continued, the whole atmosphere was thrown into the stage of emotion. Tears ran through his eyes in a very conspicuous manner. Even some of the elders, having heard his grievances, felt for him. Some shook their heads in sympathy while some others, with guilty minds bowed their heads for the avoidance of having any eye contact with him)he continued, is this what being an elder is all about, witch-hunting people and preying on their god given blessings?”

Nodokwe, having said all that he wanted to say, released the chief he held hostage and fell to the ground, surrendered himself to be arrested by them.

The king ordered the guards to take him away and lock him up in the maximum prison. Without hesitation, Nodokwe followed the guards to the prison where he was detained.

  In the prison custody, Nodokwe was abandoned and made to suffer several deprivations for weeks. No attempt was made to provide him food and water. After so many weeks, he died in the prison. His body was released to the birds of the air to prey on. This is the highest calamity that has ever taken place in the history of the people except in some exception where the deceased died calamitously. To them, it is a taboo in the land to dispose of dead bodies by any other method other than burying the body. This threw a great grave silence in the community. The people were warned strictly never to say anything about this. Parents, guardians and even masters of servants warned their children, wards and servants respectively to desist from passing any comment about the whole situation. They were mandated to keep deaf ears and dumb lips to the whole situation.

 So many years after, the gods which have been said to have gone dead suddenly arose from their many years of slumbering. The anger of the gods has now been vested upon the people. Calamities began to strike. It was as if the world was about to come to an end. So many died mysteriously and those alive were plagued with diverse infirmities. Wailings, sorrows and agonies of the highest magnitude were the contemporary issues. The king became incurably sick. It has been said that his survival is solely dependent of the return of Elokwe back to the land whether dead or alive.  This created a great pandemonium in the community, and a promise was made to anyone who could give any information as to the where about of Elokwe. Great searches were carried out by the warriors in different communities yet she was no where to be found.

Several months later, the king passed on when all efforts concerted by the warriors and many other members of the community proved abortive. The whole community remained in shambles and good life to them is now a thing of the past. “See, I am never afraid of whatever you want to do to me, king! For we have suffered enough in this community. What have we not been made to undergo in this land; what have you and your evil men not subjected my family to? You accused my mother of being responsible for the death of her own dearly beloved husband and then banished her from this community for which she almost lost her life in the process of fighting for the liberation of the female folks from the dehumanising ordeals which they were subjected to undergo by the land of Aluchie after the conquest of our people long time ago. Whereas, you, and these god-forsaken elders connived within yourselves to terminate the life of an innocent man who, like his wife, fought assiduously against injustice perpetrated by you and the members of your family. Also, after you had murdered him, you, in collaboration with some other members of the community, you took away the land which he inherited from his father, our late grandfather and shared it amongst yourselves. You all know that his presence in your occult meetings will retard your progress in carrying out your nefarious acts.

Elders of the land, (as he continued, the whole atmosphere was thrown into the stage of emotion. Tears ran through his eyes in a very conspicuous manner. Even some of the elders, having heard his grievances, felt for him. Some shook their heads in sympathy while some others, with guilty minds bowed their heads for the avoidance of having any eye contact with him)he continued, is this what being an elder is all about, witch-hunting people and preying on their god given blessings?”

Nodokwe, having said all that he wanted to say, released the chief he held hostage and fell to the ground, surrendered himself to be arrested by them.

The king ordered the guards to take him away and lock him up in the maximum prison. Without hesitation, Nodokwe followed the guards to the prison where he was detained.

  In the prison custody, Nodokwe was abandoned and made to suffer several deprivations for weeks. No attempt was made to provide him food and water. After so many weeks, he died in the prison. His body was released to the birds of the air to prey on. This is the highest calamity that has ever taken place in the history of the people except in some exception where the deceased died calamitously. To them, it is a taboo in the land to dispose of dead bodies by any other method other than burying the body. This threw a great grave silence in the community. The people were warned strictly never to say anything about this. Parents, guardians and even masters of servants warned their children, wards and servants respectively to desist from passing any comment about the whole situation. They were mandated to keep deaf ears and dumb lips to the whole situation.

 So many years after, the gods which have been said to have gone dead suddenly arose from their many years of slumbering. The anger of the gods has now been vested upon the people. Calamities began to strike. It was as if the world was about to come to an end. So many died mysteriously and those alive were plagued with diverse infirmities. Wailings, sorrows and agonies of the highest magnitude were the contemporary issues. The king became incurably sick. It has been said that his survival is solely dependent of the return of Elokwe back to the land whether dead or alive.  This created a great pandemonium in the community, and a promise was made to anyone who could give any information as to the where about of Elokwe. Great searches were carried out by the warriors in different communities yet she was nowhere to be found.

Several months later, the king passed on when all efforts concerted by the warriors and many other members of the community proved abortive. The whole community remained in shambles and good life to them is now a thing of the past.