Thread by @segalink

A wise Tweep sent me an article adapted from the old folklore about the Ants and the Grasshopper which was short and apt but I have chosen to tell that tale differently as it mirrors our own society. I hope you enjoy this version. #RiggedAgainstTheAnts

The ants in their assiduous nature work their hearts out in the withering heat and the rain, all through the season, building houses, laying up supplies and making their taxes count even though they are their own government.

They are assured that nothing stays the same and the business clime is prone to peaks and troughs. They are aware that winter will come and no one understands that ‘the night is dark and full of terror’ more than they do.

I however can’t say the same for the Grasshoppers that believe the ants are foolish. They scorn, live irresponsibly, dominate the SocialMedia space with their vanities and throw caution to the wind. They literally merry away their summer as it is in their nature as indoctrinated.

In character and temperament, the Grasshopper race-types is a happy, thriftless, excitable in personality, Lacking in self-control, Discipline (and) Foresight, (Full of) personal vanity, (with) little sense of veracity (fond of Music),...

(His) thoughts are concentrated on events and feelings of the moment, (and) he) suffers little from the apprehension for the future or grief for the past, (He lacks) the power of organization, (and is conspicuously),...

...Deficient in the management and control alike of their kind or business, He loves the display of power, but fails to realize its responsibility...

Perhaps the two traits which have impressed the ants as those most characteristic of the Grasshopper native are his lack of apprehension and his lack of ability to visualize the future.

It was in this spirit that election came and the Grasshoppers threw their support for their kind using belligerence, propaganda, rigging and all that they can to stampede to power one that represents all that they approve.

At least they hope their morbid entitlement mindset will be catered for under their preferred rulership with the `praying mantis. As fate may have it, they had their way with support from the Bees, Beetles and worms.

Winter came for the house of All in this Universe literally and figuratively.

All the promises of the Praying Mantis fell to the ground and the gains of governments past were ruined by their misrule and unconscionable rulership.

The grasshoppers were however favored with a retainer to keep intimidating the voice of reason on the streets and force the praise singing of the Mantis on all that crawleth.

This went on for the whole four years and they managed to rig themselves back to power just to perpetuate their agenda to enslave all and sundry to their whims and caprices.

Soon the shivering impoverished Grasshoppers who see all ants as frauds call a press conference demanding to know why the ants should be allowed to be warm, well fed and even criticize the lifeless administration of the Praying Mantis…while they are starving in the cold.

ChannelsTV & NTA especially were duly represented to provide the needed resources broadcasting to the world the script of the TonyBlair consultancy, with pictures of the shivering Grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

Nigerians on SocialMedia went wild by the sharp contrast. What manner of corruption is this?! How can this be, in a country of such wealth, these grasshoppers are allowed to suffer so? 🤔

The emaciated ‘GrassOdamisi’ appeared on BEN Tv with a Grasshopper Doctor of humanities with no iota of humanity in him and everyone sang along with them about how Corruption is killing their beloved Nation.

It wasn’t long before the “Otoge” movement (a pseudo movement that feigns the political will of the masses but actually a media propaganda contract to incite the public and lure them into mental slavery) began protesting against the Ant.

No one questioned those at the helms of power, all blames were couched at the doorstep of past leaders and those they can’t oppress or enslave now, while the collective patrimony is being fleeced by the cohort, families and associates of the praying Mantis.

The economy of the country plunged, security went south and the promise to fight corruption became a full fledged war against the assiduous Ants.

Occupy the Anthill stages a demonstration in front of the ant’s house where the news crew film the MantisMediaGroup/Corp (MMG/MMC) sang and trended #GoHarder and #CorruptionFightingBack online with the enormous resources made available to them by the ailing government of the day.

No doubt, identity politics of hate (populism) have come to stay. It is now more Nigerian to be Grasshopper than be an Ant. Anyone who is not in support of the Mantis is automatically deemed an Ant (opposition) even if you are a bee or butterfly.

Grasshopper Mbaka who is a notorious pseudo priest known for deploying his pretentious piety for political gain, prayed for the MMC/MMG (an amoral griot hub of brainwashed grasshoppers) on national television weeping profusely while proselytizing.

He damns the ants and gave an emotional interview on ChannelsTV about the injustice done to the nation by the indomitable Ants and how the feeble Praying Mantis was a vicim in all this.

The ruling political party GRC (Grasshoppers’ Regressive Congress) blamed the 16years of Millipede rule despite the fact that they recorded the fairest/freest election in the history of the country & brought about notable gains that were destroyed by the mantis’ ineffectual rule.

They claim that the suffering, hardship and pestilence of now was due to the impunity of the Millipede’s rule. “They stole all the money in the treasury” they wailed. Grasshopper Lying Mohammed insisted recalcitrantly that the ant has gotten rich off the Grasshopper’s back...

...and they call for an immediate increase in taxes and indiscriminate raids of the homes of the ants or anyone that doesn’t support their agenda to force the recompense of the ants.

The EFCC as led by a bigoted Grasshopper MaHopGu began his own task of persecuting any and everyone he deems a political opponent of his deity (The Mantis). Accusing them of corruption and conducting the most heinous media trials in the history of their democracy.

Millipedes became an endangered specie. An Economy Equity & Anti-Ant Act was drafted by the Executives (majorly comprising of bigoted and partisan Grasshoppers) feeding fat on the rot. This was retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of grasshoppers and green bugs loyal to the Mantis. The economy of the Ant is now strained based on oppressive policies weaponized against him for submission.

Having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government as led by the Mantis and re-allocated to the Grasshopper.

In the long run we see the Grasshopper & his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant’s food while the government house he is in, which, as you can recall, just happens to be the ant’s old house, crumbles around them because the grasshopper doesn’t maintain it.

The Grasshoppers started a bloody war within themselves as most of their wards have become terrorists based on untamed morbid entitlement emanating from feel good effect of their alignment to the seat of power.

Soon the Grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and peaceful neighborhood. The entire nation collapses bringing the rest of the free world with it.

Be careful with your nonchalance towards elections. Voter apathy is a dangerous thing to you and the future of your children. Learn from the Ants and never be fooled by the inanities of the indolent and insolent. Your decision will forever determine your destiny.

Think while it is still legal.

End

It is worthy of note that the period under the millipede wasn’t rosy either. Though better than what current applies. The millipedes were conceited, insensitive but progressive in a capitalistic way. They had no political enemies & their complacency became their undoing.

The allegory in no way glorified the days under the Millipede but warns about the time we currently live in. Things may get worse if we don’t begin to recognize the value in our diversity & unity. There’s no difference between a Millipede and the ant once you’re not with the GMC.