Fijabi became a very popular figure in the kingdom of Sosa, his name was in every lips. He has won many battles for his new Kingdom and thus expanded her territory. The king put him in charge of the new territories gained from his victory. He began to fantasize on being the King. Years ago, the goddess of the seven rivers has appeared to him and gave him a prophecy of becoming a king even though he has no ancestral claim to the throne; he never thought it will become a reality neither has he ever get this close to a throne. His life has been on the battle field . He thought to himself, “if I were the king, I will task this villagers higher so that they can work harder, they are too lazy and yet they have a lot to eat, I will establish my sovereignty and I will manifest as their gods, ears will dread at the mention of my name, all other kings will bow before me” He surrounded himself with men of lower ranks who sat to listen to him as he tell them stories of his achievement. His new followers pays obeisance to him while he honored them with looted treasures from the king’s coffer.
As faith may have it, the great king was without an heir, it was the custom of the Sosa kingdom that a male heir must ascend the throne. The King grew older and he know that his moment of translation is near. He grew so fond of his son-in-law Fijabi, He called a meeting of the Kings maker and instructed them that Fijabi will ascend the throne when he is gone, the King has unquestionably autonomous power. Although a foreigner has never been made king before, and besides the kings men also feel safe with the presence of Fijabi and they wouldn’t want him gone. The Kings maker and the king unanimously agreed to crown him as their new king.
On the eve of his coronation, while parading the kingdom, the priestess of the seven river appears to him repeating the great prophecy
“Your fame shall be know across the seven rivers, your name will evoke fear and trembling in your enemies, you will topple kingdoms, you will rule the kingdoms, not by birthright, but providence, alas! Everything will be taken away from you in a second! It will all come to ruin, not even a cloth on your back! The gods detest your spirit and the evil you have done! Go for your faith has been sealed!!!”
Fijabi was filled with rage but couldn’t hit the priestess, he said to himself shrugging his shoulder, “madness is not in my lineage and it will never find my path” but as the saying goes, ‘pride cometh before a fall’. He said to himself, “as soon as he becomes the king, I will summon the priestess of the seven kingdom and behead her publicly for proclaiming negativity over my reign”
Reference
• Surugede: Akin Akingbogun
• binoandfino.com
• blogswaliafrica.com