The gods must be joking. Part 2

It's almost two months, the city is still without a king. The kingmakers has tried to persuade the royal family to present one of their kinsmen to ascend the throne of a their forefathers but non was ready to become a sacrifial lamb for the atonement of the land of odumbaku instead they promised to foot the bill of all the expenses that will be incurred during the coronation if anybody in the land is ready to become the King.

The throne was vacant , the land needed a king but there was nobody to assume the office. Everyone in the city was aware that the next king has to die before normalcy can be restored to the Land. Nobody is ready to die.

"Ojo! Play the game and stop shaking like a goat before the slaughter slab" Adigun said jokingly. They were deeply engulfed in ayo olopan a traditional cultural game majorly played by elders and the middle aged in Odumbaku land. This is what they use to unwind and relax after the hectic day . under the Odan tree , their usual spot for the game , there were several people watching the two people playing the game. They will cheer up the winning side and make jest of the one loosing . if you are somebody that gets easily angry by what people say ayo olopon should never be an option for you at least don't play it under the Odan tree in Odumbaku because they will abuse you including your family if you by any means loose a game

Ojo is presently the one on the loosing side and people were really making jest of him to the extent that he was confused of what step to take next " we don't have all day Ojo, if you want to sleep here you can since you don't have a wife at home , as for me my wife is waiting for me" everyone bursted into laughter "stop being disrespectful Adigun, do you realise you are talking to our next king? " one man among the crowd said jokingly " you mean the one that will take away the sin of our land?" Another one said and this time the laughter was louder and more demoralising ." sincerely Ojo" Adigun paused the game to face him" you have to consider the proposal of the kingmakers, you will be a king for some days and enjoy the royal life at least for once in your lifetime " "just a day of enjoyment is better than a hundred years of suffering" another boisterous laughter followed.

Ojo left the game venue angrily and held towards his home. He couldn't take it anymore. The insult is getting too much. Is it a crime to be poor ? He has become the laughing stock to every dick and harry of Odumbaku. The news is all over the land. The people now know that Ojo is the one the kingmakers is proposing to make the king. Many are saying he should take it at least he would be useful for himself and the community for the first time in his life time. His heart is so heavy with grief, tears are flowing down his cheeks freely. This will be the last straw that breaks the camel back. " I will end it today, nobody will stop me this time" "not even Mr. Banji " " He should have allowed me to end it the other time, by now I would have been in the heaven resting" "he kept telling me all will be will but instead things are getting worse" "from frying pan to fire"

A lot was ravaging his now heavy and confused head as he took the narrow paths that leads to his hut. "The gamallin 20 I kept on the roof top would be the solution this evening" " I would end it all" he concluded . To his amazement he met Mr Banju seated on the bamboo bench in front of the house . Mr Banji flashed a brilliant smile as he saw him approaching the house. " Mr. Ojo welcome" "I have been waiting for you" Ojo was surprised to meet him at home by this period " I thought you said you are going to the city " Ojo inquired " I had to come back when I heard the news" "which news?" Ojo asked as he took his seat beside Mr. Banji " why didn't you tell me that the kingmakers has chosen you to be the next king? "' that's the good news we've been waiting for" in amazement Ojo kept his gaze on Mr. Banji " it's like this one doesn't know what is at stake" he thought in his mind . Mr. Banjo continued to tell him how the Almighty has finally answered his prayer and decided to visit him in a miraculous way " he uses the foolish things if this world to confirm the wise " he said as he speaks on passionately to convince Ojo that the situation is divinely orchestrated to turn his condition around. " This religion has turned his head " ojo seems to whisper to himself as he look at Mr. Banjo in awe obviously confused on which to believe; either the chief priest that says whosoever become the next king shall die or Mr. Banji that claimed the the situation is for his miracle to manifest.

************************

It's already a year. The whole land of Odumbaku were basking in the frenzy of celebration. It's the one year anniversary of the new king Oba Ojo Olagunju (ekundayo 1) the odundun of Odumbaku kingdom. It was a whole week of celebration with a lot to drink and eat . Many people came even from neighbouring towns and communities to felicitate with the king and the people of the Land. Nobody cooked in their house for that whole week, just get your way to the city center , there was always food available for each households and guests morning,afternoon and night.

The entertainers both the singers and the dancers were present in their hundreds to add colors to the celebration. It has never happened like this in the history of the land. The last one year has been the most peaceful and flourishing for the entire kingdom. No calamity was recorded or experienced. The happiest of the people were the farmers , their farm produce came out bountifully during the harvest " eledumare has finally smiled in us" one of the farmers confessed as he joyfully brought his isakole ,the yearly return to the king. Infrastructural development of the town was rapid, many of which was facilitated by Mr. Banji the school headmaster who also doubled as the Special adviser to the king.

Baba Awo, the community's chief priest was relaxing on an arm chair under the tree in front if his house when Adekeke the heir-apparent of the royal family walked in obviously furious .

"Baba awo what is going on now?" he asked after the usual greeting befitting the elders " it's like you and your deities are now using double standard " "How?" Asked the chief priest " the gods did not hesitate to kill the two of our kinsmen that was installed as king before Ojo" "it's over a year now ojo is still hale and hearty , nothing is wrong with him" " is that not double standard? " . The chief priest chuckled , adjusted his cap and sat uprightly " Ojo's case is so different " he cleared his throat "he's a child of ore that can never be sacrificed to ore" "he is an initiated and can never be treated like an uninitiated" baba concluded. Adeleke opened his mouth in awe his eyes were threatening to leave their sockets " let me even burst your brain" baba Awo shot back in exaggeration "henceforth , Ojo and his family has become one of the royal families of the land, they will be entitled to the throne as your family is" " your gods must be joking" Adeleke yelled as he left Baba awo in anger.

The end

Written by Oladeji Gbenga

If you enjoy this story kindly recommend it to someone else and leave a comment

Kind regards