Daniel Ngote stood stock-still, for the words he had just heard had seriously shocked him. Nebu-Chad, the son of Senior Council Man Cyrus Nezzar, had just made him a challenge he could not refuse. Nebu, as he was often called, though he preferred the better-sounding Chad, had not only insulted him but also his father's livelihood.
The insult had been subtle, almost undetectable, but he had picked it from the undertone of Nebu's words. Nebu had slyly implied that his father, Cyrus Nezzar, was the de facto ruler of Otapiapia, holding sway over such "common" artisans as the smiths, weavers, farmers, millers and bakers - including Daniel's father Council Man Danta, the baker. If such noble trades were common, then the trade of the orator, which Nebu's father practised was definitely lowly - even with the moving effects his sweet words could produce.
As Senior Council Man, Nebu's father indeed had some authority over the Coucil of Otapiapia but the position came with little in the way of enforcing his will. Apparently, Nebu thought the post was hereditary. This thought brought a smirk to Daniel's face and lightened his heart a bit; Nebu would be in for a rude shock when the time came to choose a new Senior Council Man.
With motivation born of the desire to prove Nebu wrong, Daniel decided he was indeed going to hold sway over Otapiapia... and other places beyond. Not by holding a position that barely gave him the power to get anything done but by holding valuable resources. Beginning from that moment, he started taking actions - actions which would lead him to places he never even imagined.
By the way...
Hearing Nigerians speak, a stranger would think us insatiable from the innumerable things we desire, especially when we know we cannot get those things. That's purely on the surface though.
Deep within, we really are contented with the things we have. We don't desire more. When given something we are not used to, we simply modify it to suit what we know even if that means damaging the thing; as they say: better the devil you know than the angel you don't.
This is why the public officials we choose to represent us forget their mandates the moment they reach the seats of power, even creating mini-dynasties in the process. Sometimes, it can even become a family affair. This is not a bad thing in itself, as long as it serves the public good.
The only way to cut down this trend is when the people hold valuable resources. Which people, you ask? Well, everyone other than those who currently hold the resources - including YOU and I. How do we go about getting these resources? There are a lot of people who presently hold valuable resources which they got by the dint of hard work, not by plundering public funds, and we could simply study and emulate them. We know them, don't we?
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