The King's Verdict

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“We have decided to place an injunction on all the land belonging to the late Chief Uma, we cannot fold our hands and see his children fighting and dragging their father's name through the mud”. Chief Okeke said.

“Our people used to say that 'the stubborn flies follow the corpse to the grave. Is it not so”?
“It's so” other chiefs responded in unison
“It is a good thing that we step into this matter because no one knows what tomorrow holds,” Chief Akpam said as he sipped his palm wine.

“Chief Uma was a good and peaceful person in this village, I wonder why his children chose to be violent in handling common land disputes,” one of the chiefs said, hitting the ground with his staff. “I pray that his ancestors accept his soul” he added
“Iseee….” Others responded in unison.

After all the chiefs of Okorie had taken turns at expressing their disappointment at the attitude of the children of Chief Uma, one of the title chiefs who lost his life in his good old age, it was time for the king to speak.

“My chiefs, I thank you all for coming out today. Our fathers used to say that a king cannot govern his kingdom alone; that's why I have you all here. It is so sad that the children of this generation do not have regard for their fathers and ancestors, which is why they are behaving anyhow. I pray that our ancestors forgive them”
“Iseee…” the chiefs responded

“By the next market day”, the king continues “we shall all move together to all the lands belonging to Chief Uma and share them one after the other amongst the six children of late Chief Uma. I pray that our ancestors will guide us”
“Iseee….” They responded again.

With these, the king's men were satisfied with the decision of the king, and they left one after the other, but Chief Akpam stayed back to see the king personally.

“Our king, may you live long” he said, handing him a bottle of snap hot drink
“Thank you, Chief Akpam”, the king said as he collected the drink.

“Ehmm,” He stammered before proceeding ”George Orwell once said that animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others, our ancestors blessed Chief Uma with six children from two different wombs, these children are not the same”

The countenance of the king showed that he wasn't grasping what Chief Akpam said, but he listened attentively.

“Nonso, the third son of Chief Akpam, gave me this envelope to give to you”. He handed the envelope to the king. “He had asked me to tell you to see the sharing of his father's property from the eyes of an elder”
“That's so generous of him” the king muttered
“That was why I said that some animals are more equal than others, imagine a small child having more understanding than his older siblings”
“May our ancestors bless him”
“Meanwhile my Lord” Akpam interrupted “he has promised more bigger envelope, if the sharing favours him the more”
“In fact, we will see things through the eyes of our ancestors”, the king boasted as both laughed and sipped their drinks.

The infamous market day had arrived, and all six children of late Chief Uma, together with all the chiefs of the kingdom, had gathered at the king's palace. The elders greeted each other, and a few bottles of local guns and kola nuts were kept at the centre of the palace. The atmosphere was tense, nobody knew the outcome of the day’s gathering. But one thing was paramount: Chief Uma’s property must be shared among his six children. After all the elders had taken turns to speak, the king stood up to make a final verdict.

“Our ancestors blessed Chief Uma with a great portion of land at different locations across the village. Our chief was so hardworking that he was able to buy another five plots of land to add to the two he inherited from his father. He planted yams and harvested them every year, he didn't sit down and wait for his father's inheritance like some of you are doing today, fighting and causing commotion in the village”

Everywhere was silent, not a sound of a fly was heard, the king's statement was timely, and all six children were ashamed of themselves.

“..before I proceed to the sharing of the properties, I want to say that one of you happened to bribe the king through one of the chiefs by giving me money so to get a bigger portion of the land, for doing that I have decided return your money and do what is right” the king’s maid brought out an envelope and dropped it on the table. Suddenly, Chief Akpam’s countenance changed, he wanted to run out of the palace but decided to stay back.

The chiefs insisted on knowing who the person was. When they realised that it was Chief Akpam, he was stripped of his chiefly position in the village and banished from the village for three years according to the custom of the land.

The lands were shared among the children according to the custom and tradition of the kingdom.