OBA–Agbodegba, please help me tell all the Bales that there is fire on the mountain, if what I saw and heard yesterday were anything to go by, I think there is urgent need to have a meeting with Bales.
AGBODEGBA– But what are those things you saw and heard that is making you fidget? After all you are not at your palace, you came home for holidays in order to rest.
I don’t think you need to border yourself unnecessarily. Allow the Bales to enjoy their holidays too.
But, what happened to your messengers? You need to contact them first before the Bales.
OBA–I don’t think you know the gravity of what is happening or going on.If you knew, you won’t be talking about my messengers, who know little or nothing about their villages and hamlets.
AGBODEGBA–But some of these your messengers had delivered and still delivering since you ascended the throne.
Why condemn them? If you have an issue with one or two of them, just call those ones to order, instead of lumping them together.
To the best of my knowledge, the rain man, in that mans the house of criminals, travelers and other matters is doing very well, while his counterpart, the axe man, manning the house of digging for important things and the like is also good. The people in the town and villages are praising them.
You even, refused to summon the man who is in charge of bushes, animals and the like for this matter.
OBA–I don’t think I need all these points you are raising now, they are not immediately germane to the problem at hand.
Had it been you were there yesterday, when I went out to pray with my brethren, friends and enemies, you would have understood what I meant.
AGBODEGBA–Ah, you said your enemies followed you to pray too, why did you allow them?
OBA– But there was no way l would have recognised them, it wasn’t written on their foreheads and besides, they were not holding any instrument of mass destruction.
unless, certain things happened, and they did happen yesterday, that made me conclude that, enemies were also included in my entourage.
AGBODEGBA–Are you saying your enemies caused what happened?
OBA– Who else would have caused it?
AGBODEGBA–You have even been talking and talking without mentioning these problems caused by these your unidentifiable enemies, please, what are they?
OBA– As we were approaching praying ground yesterday, a lot of people lined up on both sides of the road.
Suddenly, as if they were competing for Laurel, the shout of ‘We are hungry! We are hungry!’ rented the air.
AGBODEGBA–Ah, that is very serious o, what were security men doing?
OBA– What are you saying, are they lying? Besides, if they act, it would have been a case of pouring petrol into a burning fire.
AGBODEGBA–Let me be very frank with you, people are really suffering, prices of things have gone up, especially that of food stuff which should have been a buffer for majority of our people. Do you know how much they sell rice now? Did Olori not tell you that the prices of beans, corn ,groundnut oil, Palm oil, tuber of yam have gone up? Or she has not told you why you may have to send back some of those ‘Alayes’ living free on Aso Villa?
I will suggest that, after your holidays, send both your messengers and Bales back to their villages for facts finding.
I won’t deceive you, during the holidays, everywhere was just like grave yard, nothing much to show and celebrate this season, it has never been this bad.
You need to thank your stars, that what they put up was a mild protest, but, with that, you should know that another popular protest (whispers: like #endsars) appears to be gathering momemtum.
OBA–You mean there could have been a riot, for just not been able to feed well?
AGBODEGBA—Ah, you have come again with this your we and them attitude. What you saw and heard are dress rehearsals, you and your people should gird your loins, though you are trying, acquiring land here and there, and promises of food sufficiency, without proper road and big people taking the lead to show example will not help.
People are just hungry, and promises cannot solve the problem.
OBA— Thank you. That was why I decided to plead with them again on New Year Day, to exercise patience. I am confident that, with all these things that we are cooking on the stove now, these problems and pains will soon be a thing of the past.
AGBODEGBA—Your Highness, I pray that the relief comes very fast. Because even I am beginning to lose my voice. Each time they ask me what is going on, that cough that used to worry me will just come! And I know that it is not drug that will solve it.