By Engr Ira Habib
There lived a generous sailor named Ajinomoh in a remote coastal village comprising three communities. This sailor was known far and wide for his kind heart and willingness to uplift others in the village.
There was a river that separated this village from a land rumored to be overflowing with gold.
One of these three major communities was the one mining this gold, being the only community that had a canoe capable of sailing to the gold-laden land, and depriving other communities of using it.
To enable every indigenous person of the community to have access to the gold, Ajinomoh embarked on a mission to craft his own canoe from the sturdy trees of the forest. With skillful hands and unwavering determination, he labored tirelessly until his creation, a canoe capable of navigating the river to the gold-laden land, was completed.
Having crafted his canoe, the generous man went round and picked passengers from each community in the village to travel to the gold-laden land.
As Ajinomoh and his group of passengers began their mining endeavor in the land of gold, whispers of caution began to circulate among the villagers. Some warned Ajinomoh of the true nature of his companions, urging him to be wary of their intentions. But Ajinomoh, ever trusting and optimistic, dismissed these warnings, believing in the inherent goodness of those he had chosen to accompany him.
As time passed and Ajinomoh aged, he realized the importance of finding a successor to carry on his legacy as the village sailor. In a gesture of inclusivity and equality, he offered all his passengers the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of taking his place. He instructed them to purchase a saddle, symbolizing their readiness to step into his shoes when the time came.
Expecting unity, Ajinomoh was shocked when his passengers, driven by their own greed and selfish desires, turned against each other in a bid to secure his favor. Each one attempted to manipulate him into choosing them as his successor, abandoning the principles of cooperation and solidarity they had once professed.
Among Ajinomoh's passengers was one named Chijoke who wielded influence and authority, boasting that he is the most qualified to succeed the sailor among his colleagues. He cunningly manipulated his companions, instilling in them a sense of dependence and obedience to his will. He confidently proclaimed that they would rally round whoever Ajinomoh endorsed, and that person would inevitably become the chosen successor to Ajinomoh, the generous sailor, with thought he will be the chosen one.
However, when Ajinomoh announced his decision to select his successor, Chijoke crumbled, revealing his true colors. Consumed by envy and resentment upon realizing he was not chosen, Chijoke abandoned all pretense of loyalty and alliance. He formed alliances with those who harbored ill intentions towards Ajinomoh and his beloved canoe.
With treachery in his heart, Chijoke allied himself with the enemies of the generous sailor, plotting to undermine Ajinomoh and destroy the symbol of his legacy, the canoe that had carried them to the land of gold. He conspired in the shadows, spreading lies and discord among the passengers, sowing seeds of doubt and dissent.
Driven by his own selfish desires for power and recognition, Chijoke betrayed not only Ajinomoh but also the community, and the principles of unity and cooperation that had once bound them together. He betrayed the trust of his companions, turning them against each other in pursuit of his own twisted ambition.
As Ajinomoh confronted the threat posed by Chijoke and his ilk among the passengers, he realized that the true test of his strength and resolve lay not in the face of external dangers, but in the capacity to confront the darkness within those he once considered friends.
With unwavering determination, Ajinomoh stood firm against the tide of betrayal, determined to protect his canoe and preserve the values that defined him as a sailor.
And though Chijoke's betrayal left scars that would linger long after the dust had settled, Ajinomoh emerged from the ordeal stronger and more resilient than ever before, a testament to the enduring power of generosity, integrity, and the indomitable spirit of the human heart.
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