Thread by @zeal_a

How many ways can you view the evolution of a style of government?

Here’s an adaptation from a commonly read book and infused with @DrJoeAbah’s Eze Mmuo Chronicles.

THREAD

A very long time ago, a special group of people with a very unique culture had an Eze Mmuo leading and judging all their matters. Eze Mmuo led the people well and was directly in touch with the gods, so all his counsel had been very productive to the people.

They had a lot of resources that had been managed judiciously and all the people were rich and those that weren’t, were taken care of just by going to Eze Mmuo’s shrine.

There was no lack in the land.

Their riches made them travel far and wide and visit other cultures.

One day, they decided that they preferred the leadership style of some of the other cultures & so, they came together & told Eze Mmuo:

“We went to AlaNdiBeke &!liked what we saw. Their king looked regal & his palace was magnificent. We want a king & their culture of leadership”

Eze Mmuo was hurt because he felt he must have done something wrong and failed his people. He went to the gods in tears and apologies for his seeming failure.

The gods comforted him and said it had nothing to do with him. “It is us being rejected, not you” they said.

The gods sent him back with a message:
“You are a very Special people & we have chosen your style of governance cos giving your unique history, it suits your culture, traditions, instinct and your understanding. Trust us, this is the best way for you to run and manage yourselves.

The structure of governance your neighbours have is unique to them as yours is unique to you. You won’t understand theirs and you won’t be able to navigate the complexities of managing your culture, beliefs and their style of governance. You will become miserable because:

their governance structure has a cost that you, the people, will have to fund. The structure will take your sons as laborers, your daughters as subservient, your riches will be taken forcefully and you all will work hard but a few people will take all the riches of the land”

But the people said, “we know what we are doing and want what we want and we don’t care for the consequences. After all it’s our children’s children that will bear it. Let them deal with the issues then and if they don’t like it, they can change it”.

And so the gods, reluctantly, allowed them have their inconvenient desire and instructed Eze Mmuo to give them the style of governance they asked for. They retired the Eze Mmuo position and retreated into the shadows.

But guess what?!?!?

A few generations later, after Eze Mmuo was no more and his lineage ignored, the history, dialogue and reason for the inconvenient style of governance was lost and forgotten.

They had forgotten their old culture and couldn’t adjust to the new. Confusion permeated the land

Under the burden of a dysfunctional government, a flawed constitution, corrupt leadership, decaying culture, dilapidated infrastructure, extreme poverty, rife illiteracy, uneducated children, a few thousand people siphoning all the resources and riches of millions,

corruption taking over their formerly rich culture, foreigners invading their lands and killing their children... news of wickedness, crime, depression, suicides was prevalent. The people sought for Eze Mmuo’s lineage to seek the face of the gods & intercede but didn’t find them

Many saw a business opportunity to exploit the desperation of the people; so fake Eze Mmuo’s showed up everywhere & further extorted & impoverished the people in the name of contacting & appeasing the gods. But nothing changed as the gods seemed silent.

When the gods finally spoke, they said:

“With your hands and by your choice you meticulously crafted chaos and it is only by your choice, with your hands & minds can you fashion a way to redeem yourselves. Carve a new culture, teach your children & rise against your oppressors”

But will the people listen? Will they unite against their oppressors and oppressive style of governance? Will they realize they are all victims and stop attacking each other? Will they realize their oppressing are knocking their heads with tribe and religion?

WILL THEY???