The Greedy King Who Could Not Eschew Bribery

– A Must Read Story!

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On one sunny afternoon in the jungle of "Kasepreko" in the country of "Ahufo3", His Majesty the King, Odisika Kalabuleman, invited his elders into his inner room for a confidential meeting. The usher of the day, who doubled as one of the King’s lieutenants, "Odiawuo Akyempemhene" was cheerfully ushering in the invited top-notch chiefs of the land.

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The spokesperson of the meeting, His Majesty the King’s right-hand man, also a chief but ugly with sunken eyes, welcomed the other chiefs to the meeting. My fellow chiefs, we are here today on request by His Majesty the King. We have come to discuss how to find a suitable person to occupy the paramount stool of "Animiakrom" that has been lying vacant since the demise of their chief, "Nana Sikadicious man", many years ago.

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Nananom, said one of the invited chiefs, let us not have sleepless nights over who is to occupy the throne. We all know which of the competing families, is the true descendant of the originator of that throne. Let us give it to them.

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No, shouted Odiawuo Akyempemhene. That is not how it goes. His Majesty the King does not care about whether you are the genuine or the most preferred royal by your people, but rather, he cares more about who can dip their hands deeper into their pockets to offer him something - bribe.

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Oh, now I know. So are we here to agree on who can pay the biggest bribe to offer that family the throne? Why are we seeking to overturn history in the name of bribery? You had better shout up or you leave the room, ordered His Majesty the King. "Nana Me mmpe me ho asem" sat down, kept his silence throughout the entire meeting.

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When His Majesty the King decides, there is no turning back, said "Nana Adufrupe", the spokesperson. In the end, they all consented to giving it to that family which although is rich and can afford the fee they will be demanding, that family is indeed not the real descendants of the originator of the stool.

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His Majesty the King arranged to meet the 1st Lady of the not-too-genuine royal family about his decision. The 1st Lady then agreed on certain terms of conditions with him. She will pay bribes as requested and offer them other benefits when the deal goes through.

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On an appointed date when His Majesty the King sat with his conniving panel members, they decided the 1st Lady and her family are equally genuine members and occupants of the paramount throne of "Animiakrom". Subsequently, they empowered her to proceed to install the candidate of her choice regardless of tradition pointing contrarily.

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All the while that they were plotting to undermine the real royals of the town, GOD was sitting up in the Higher Firmaments laughing at them, and wondering how they could so cheaply sacrifice their integrity for money. God tried to let them see reason but the hardened criminals would not budge. His Majesty the King came out to boast of having developed tough skin against insults hence becoming alias, "I don’t fear huu"

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The 1st Lady made a botched attempt to install her candidate as the Successor chief. It failed woefully. When God noticed the criminals had not changed but put in place "Plan B" to deny the true royals the throne, He laid traps for them.

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The obstinate King, who does not look down to detect hidden traps, proceeded to order the 1st Lady to enthrone her candidate, bypassing all norms and traditions. Suddenly, the 1st Lady fell into one of God’s laid but invisible traps. She started narrating how she had offered bribes to some chiefs. What a crime?

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His Majesty the King could still not see the seriousness of her offence. He still encouraged her to go on with imposing her candidate on the inhabitants of "Animiakrom", against the wish of God and the wish of the majority of the inhabitants. He is taking God on.

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God is up there laughing at him saying, if this obstinate King has not learnt any lesson from King Nebuchadnezzar, I shall teach him a lesser, but sour lesson. Where lies your power, oh Your Majesty the King? Your supporter has been holding herself indoors, in the hope of avoiding a visit from the powerful arm of the law.

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God says the next most powerful trap will soon trip off, entrapping all the conniving chiefs, His Majesty the King and the 1st Lady and her candidate. Where are your pangs, oh Mr Death? I know the name of the most powerful trap but I shall not say it, in case they circumvent it, says the soothsayer of the village. That will hold them by the hands, by the balls and by the neck.

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Everyone is waiting for the day when His Majesty the King, will weep his eyes out saying, "Had I known, I would have said nothing but the absolute truth and stayed away from greediness and corruption". He could only see the money hanging on the tree and was determined to go for it at all cost, without looking out for hurdles in his way.

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"Pride goes before a fall".

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Rockson Adofo

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