Kings and Queens.

"The aim of a leader should be the welfare of the people whom he leads.

I have used the word welfare to denote the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the people "

Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Every nationalist especially of Yoruba origin revers the man being quoted above. It would be an unforgivable mistake to omit his name in the glorious list of Nigerian heroes.

I recently read an article where the writer made clearly the difference between his personality and that of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu asserting that Awo's legacy is immortal. It wouldn't be absurd to say that since his death Nigeria has lacked leaders so true and sincere to the welfare of its people; physically, mentally and spiritually.

If your thoughts are in tandem with the one I just expressed I'd like you to make a quick halt and rethink. Not too long ago I came across a leader who has shown that indeed Nigeria isn't totally lacking with sincere leaders . Before I share this person which you may guess as you read on, I would like to have a cursory look at our monarchical heads existing in our country.

Our great country boasts of cultural diversity, which I made known to my Grade III students in Civic Education class. This diversity tells for the 250 ethnic groups existing. So therefore it may be right to say that we have 250 kings or queens. I have pondered of what relevance are these kings and queens. The answer isn’t far-fetched as these Babas and Mamas are custodians of our cultural heritage. Okay. What more?

These respected individuals have added little or nothing to the plight of common people. Oh!  We may have to take note of how they try in their little ways to touch common lives. If we look deeply they are the traditional electoral commission. They get very busy during election periods. Many of us would not forget our former president Goodluck Ebele who sheepishly knelt infront of royal heads for royal divine blessings. Hell o hell. What a Odunsi ! . Lagosians wouldn't easily forget the comments of Oba Akiolu of Lagos State during the days of pre-election for Governor of Lagos State.

Not only do our kings and queens serve as an unofficial electoral accreditation centre they also serve as recipients and baskets of the nation’s wealth and resources. The kind of lifestyle of these people seems quite baffling in the midst of extreme poverty ravaging our country. One of them which lives the most lavish lifestyle is Obateru of Ilaje Ondo State(you should goggle him). In Lagos where I reside, royalty is above the law of the land. You can simply identify a car of royalty when instead of the required plate number which warrants a fine of 3000 naira in defiance, you see a well decorated plate number (more frequently with beads) with inscription such as ' Egba of Egbeland'. My sincere apologies to people of Yoruba origin if I fail to capture the title accurately. For the common man, you dare not express yourself in such manner.  Federal Road Safety Corps officials will get you even if it means barging into a running car. I am a living witness of this display of desperation in implementing internal revenue derivation strategy.

To the crux of the matter; that one leader who has shown the leadership isn't by title, beads and staffs. For those who devote time in reading news platforms you should still remember the King Emere Godwin Bebe Okpabi , of Ogale  community, Niger Delta . If you remember his picture, it won't be vague to your memory that the Baba had a top hat and beads with bottled water and the 2011 landmark report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), on his table. Currently the Baba is at United Kingdom in a legal battle against Shell Petroleum Company. At this juncture I would like to share some of his words.

"My people are drinking this water"

"There are strange diseases in my community—skin diseases,people are dying sudden deaths, some people are impotent, low sperm count"

"I can afford to buy water. But can I

afford to buy for everybody? No."

"Shell is Nigeria and Nigeria is Shell. You can never, never defeat Shell in a Nigerian court. The truth is that the Nigerian legal system is corrupt,"

Well, every human cannot be the same in this world. We must have the good, the bad and the ugly. Also the sincere and insincere, the dishonest and honest, the selfish and selfless.

One thing that doesn't change is Truth. The truth is Nigeria is being raped and has been raped by all kinds of leaders ; political, religious, monarchical. Most young people do not understand the extent of rape, which tells for the reason why many of us are not concerned. Development, progress and growth wouldn't start with Buhari's administration it would start with us,young people. Until we realize the collection of rapists and desist from following their tracks, Nigeria will sleep more.

One day, mumu must wake up!.