How the Lion Became King of All Animals

Long ago, when the world was young and the earth was still learning the names of the stars, the animals lived in harmony—but without a leader. They roamed the forests, plains, and rivers freely, solving their problems in small groups, with no one to guide them all.

But as time passed, disputes grew. The elephants argued with the rhinos over the watering holes. The wolves and leopards clashed over hunting grounds.

The birds complained of noise, and the snakes whispered of rebellion. Chaos was near, and all creatures knew it: they needed a ruler. Not just any creature, but a leader brave enough to face danger, wise enough to make peace, and strong enough to protect them all.

So, the Great Council of Beasts was called beneath the oldest baobab tree. All animals, from the tiniest ant to the towering giraffe, gathered. The wise old owl presided and announced a challenge:

“Whosoever proves to be the most noble, the most brave, and the most respected among us shall be crowned King of All Animals!”

One by one, the contenders came forward.
The elephant stepped forward first, trumpeting loudly. “I am the strongest and the wisest! I never forget and I fear nothing!”

The others murmured in agreement, but the owl reminded, “Strength is not all. What of speed, and heart?”

Next came the cheetah, proud and fast. “None can outrun me! I am swift and sharp-eyed. I can chase away any danger before it arrives!”
“But what of courage?” asked the owl. “Speed cannot always save.”

Then the fox stepped forward, sly and clever. “I have tricks and plans for every problem. With my cunning, I can outwit any threat.”

The owl blinked. “But trickery cannot unite.”
At last, the lion padded slowly from the edge of the gathering. His golden mane glowed in the morning light. He did not roar. He did not boast.
“I do not claim to be the strongest, or the fastest, or the cleverest,” the lion said calmly. “But I will never turn away from danger. I do not hu

How the Lion Became King of All Animals

Long ago, when the world was young and the earth was still learning the names of the stars, the animals lived in harmony—but without a leader. They roamed the forests, plains, and rivers freely, solving their problems in small groups, with no one to guide them all.

But as time passed, disputes grew. The elephants argued with the rhinos over the watering holes. The wolves and leopards clashed over hunting grounds.

The birds complained of noise, and the snakes whispered of rebellion. Chaos was near, and all creatures knew it: they needed a ruler. Not just any creature, but a leader brave enough to face danger, wise enough to make peace, and strong enough to protect them all.

So, the Great Council of Beasts was called beneath the oldest baobab tree. All animals, from the tiniest ant to the towering giraffe, gathered. The wise old owl presided and announced a challenge:

“Whosoever proves to be the most noble, the most brave, and the most respected among us shall be crowned King of All Animals!”

One by one, the contenders came forward.
The elephant stepped forward first, trumpeting loudly. “I am the strongest and the wisest! I never forget and I fear nothing!”

The others murmured in agreement, but the owl reminded, “Strength is not all. What of speed, and heart?”

Next came the cheetah, proud and fast. “None can outrun me! I am swift and sharp-eyed. I can chase away any danger before it arrives!”
“But what of courage?” asked the owl. “Speed cannot always save.”

Then the fox stepped forward, sly and clever. “I have tricks and plans for every problem. With my cunning, I can outwit any threat.”

The owl blinked. “But trickery cannot unite.”
At last, the lion padded slowly from the edge of the gathering. His golden mane glowed in the morning light. He did not roar. He did not boast.
“I do not claim to be the strongest, or the fastest, or the cleverest,” the lion said calmly. “But I will never turn away from danger. I do not hu

CHIMA THE OUTCAST: a tragedy forbidden love story
In the heart of Igbo land, hundreds of years ago, lived a young man named Chima and a beautiful woman named Adaeze. Chima was an outcaste, born into a family that was shunned by society. Despite his family's poverty and low status, Chima possessed a heart full of love and a spirit that shone brightly. Adaeze, on the other hand, was the daughter of a wealthy and respected family. Her beauty was matched only by her kindness, and she saw in Chima a soul that resonated with her own.
From the moment they met, Chima and Adaeze were inseparable. Their love blossomed in secret, away from the prying eyes of a society that would never accept their union. They met under the cover of night, in the dense forests and by the serene rivers, where they shared dreams of a future together, free from the chains of caste and wealth.
Hu, was furious. They could not fathom their daughter marrying an outcaste, a man with no wealth or status. Instead, they arranged for Adaeze to marry Obinna, a rich man from their own caste. The wedding was set, and preparations began in earnest.
The pain of separation was unbearable for Chima and Adaeze. Each day felt like an eternity, and the thought of living without each other was a torment they could not endure. They continued to meet in secret, their love growing stronger even as the day of Adaeze's wedding approached.
On the eve of her wedding, Adaeze and Chima met one last time. Under the moonlit sky, they held each other close, tears streaming down their faces. They knew that they could not live in a world that would keep them apart. In a final act of love and defiance, they decided to end their lives together, rather than be separated by the cruel dictates of society.
Hand in hand, they walked to the edge of a cliff overlooking the river where they had shared so many happy moments. With a final kiss, they leapt into the abyss, their souls intertwined forever. The next morning, their bodies were found, and the village was plunged into mourning.
Chima and Adaeze's love story became a legend, a tale of forbidden love and the ultimate sacrifice. Their spirits were said to roam the forests and rivers, a reminder of a love so strong that not even death could keep them apart. Their story was a poignant reminder of the power of love and the cruelty of societal norms, a tale that would be told for generations to come.
THE END

My daughter was sūçking the bress äggrëssively this morning like she was the one that crossed seven seas,seven forests and seven roundabouts to UMUNZE to pay for my wife's bride price

I was just busy admiring her aggrèssion for the bress sha,But You needed to see my face too,my wife was just busy laughing at me..

So I politely told my daughter "Ada m please take it easy nnem,it's your father's food too when its empty,so please take it easy..if i had suçkēd it the way you are sūçking it now,you wouldn't have met anything"

Did CHIMAMANDA listen to her father?..Nehi, instead she now placed one of her hands on the bress and started making those "hūmming sound".

Anya mmiri ejum anya (têårs come full my eyes with a touch of çatarrh).

My wife was just busy cheering her up, and my daughter was equally raising her leg up while sūçking and doing her eyes like she was druñk

I was watching how my daughter was sūçking the bress I paid for with têârs and çatarrh all over my smooth and cute innøcent face..

My wife now said "Daddy ,This is just the beginning, since I get mind chop her hård earned ₦5,000 the other day, that I'll not near the bress for 600 years because of our daughter"..

Me:

Stopping the fulani menace in Igboland: A cue from the Ohafia- Abiriba people.
The Ohafia and Abiriba people have successfully stopped the occupation of their forests and farmlands by the fulani jihadists by banning the purchase of cows for any purpose or celebrations. They use chicken, fish, and non fulani goats for celebrations and funerals. Their members who attempted to circumvent the no cow purchase are severely punished. They are heavily fined, and members of the community will not attend the event or touch the meat. Those that slaughtered cows in their componds for personal use are subject to the same rules. The fulani terrorists have left the area. What are we waiting for? Let every Igbo man encourage his village, town, or community to emulate the Abiriba and Ohafia people. We can't just talk about "stop buying and eating cows" without a means of implementation! Let's go and convince our people!!!

‎*‎News Update* *Thursday*
15/05/2025
‎

‎**Tinubu making courageous decisions to fix Nigeria’s economy – Shettima
‎
‎**FG launches climate fund platform to unlock $500m Green Finance
‎
‎ **Tinubu approves establishment of forest guards
‎
‎  ----To take charge of 1,129 forests against terrorists and bandits
‎
‎**Oruruo appointed chairman S-East PDP disciplinary C’ttee
‎
‎**Declare state of emergency on Kano industrial estates, Reps tell FG
‎
‎**Nigeria’s insecurity ‘worrisome,’ says British High Commissioner
‎
‎**South-East threatens to dump PDP if denied national secretary position
‎
‎**Shadow Govt: DSS drags Pat Utomi to court, says ‘He’s trying to usurp Tinubu’s powers’
‎
‎**Face your ministerial job, leave Wabara alone, PDP group replies Wike
‎
‎**FG to curb menace of Japa syndrome before December – Umoh
‎
‎**173,387 candidates to retake 2025 UTME as JAMB Registrar weeps, admits responsibility
‎
‎**FG approves upgrade of power supply in Oyo to fortify grid
‎
‎**Bill to establish National Rice Development Council scales second reading in Senate
‎
‎**Oyo State Assembly advocates resuscitation of trailer parks
‎
‎**Ladi Oluwaloni backs Ayobo Ipaja CDAs with N2.5m
‎
‎**Bayelsa targets 100% immunisation coverage
‎
‎**Lagos govt trains over 23,420 workers, increases minimum wage to N85,000
‎
‎**Army dissociates self from alleged C’River cocoa farm assaults
‎
‎**Oyo Assembly to Makinde: honour Yoruba theatre legend, Lere Paimo
‎
‎**ASUU threatens to sue JAMB over UTME mass failure
‎
‎**Tiv leaders raise alarm over killings, land seizures
‎
‎**World’s poorest president dies at 89
‎
‎**Gbenga Hashim applauds Lamido’s integrity, urges return to value-driven politics
‎
‎**Waste is money, don't throw it away – LAWMA Boss
‎
‎**Nollywood actress Monalisa Stephen is dead
‎
‎**Nigerians make up 10% of UK visitors annually — British envoy
‎
‎**Pope Leo XIV meets Tennis world No 1 Sinner
‎
‎**Arokodare eyes Golden Boot after best African player award
‎
‎**Tottenham’s Kulusevski to miss Europa League final after surgery
‎
‎**Chelsea begin key talks over Osimhen’s salary


*May the good Lord clothe your days with favor and divine upliftment*
‎
Good morning


*Compiled by Hon. Osuji George osujis@yahoo.com, +234-8122200446*

DUST AND DESTINY

EPISODE 1: The Ash-Girl of Umuchu

In the quiet village of Umuchu, nestled between rolling hills and deep green forests, lived a young girl named Olamma. Her mother had died when she was barely five, and her father remarried a woman with two daughters of her own.

From the very beginning, Olamma was treated like a servant. While her stepsisters wore fine wrappers and braided their hair with beads, Olamma worked the farm, fetched water, and scrubbed the compound until her hands bled. Her skin was always dusty, her feet always cracked, and she smelled of firewood and sweat.

Her stepmother often said, “No man will look at a girl who lives in the ash pit.”

But Olamma had something they didn’t see — a heart as kind as moonlight, and a beauty that even hardship couldn’t hide. She sang to the birds, helped the elders, and never stopped dreaming.

One day, news spread like wildfire: the prince of Amaudo was seeking a bride, and all maidens were invited to a grand festival where he would make his choice.

Olamma's stepsisters prepared for days. They bathed in scented oils, wore wrappers of shining silk, and mocked her the entire time.

“You? Go to the palace looking like a bush spirit?” they laughed.

But Olamma, wiping tears with her dusty wrapper, whispered to herself, “My story isn’t over yet.”

She went with her son to pick wild strawberries... and accidentally overheard something she would have been better off not knowing"

Marina and Fyodor were doctors at the same hospital, loving parents of five-year-old Yuri. It seemed like their family was strong, and their relationship stable. But fate had other plans.

Fyodor became interested in a young woman—the daughter of the chief doctor. Beautiful, noble, with an influential father... And as it turned out, with a direct path to career advancement for ambitious employees. Youth and beauty might not have played a decisive role, but it was this combination that became an irresistible temptation for Fyodor.

He didn’t hide his intentions from his wife. He honestly declared:
— I’m in love. We’re no longer together.

Marina was crushed, but she didn’t fight for her husband. She silently accepted his decision, swallowed the bitterness of betrayal, and simply quit her job at the hospital. She couldn’t bear seeing the person who had become a stranger every day.

But her trials didn’t end there. Fyodor declared that he would stay in their shared apartment and take it for himself completely.

— Did I pull you out of your mother’s house? Then go back to her, — he said coldly.

And Marina’s mother lived in a tiny one-room apartment, where there was barely enough space for herself. Returning there with her child was impossible. And then there were the rumors, spread by Fyodor and his new patrons. No clinic in the city wanted to hire this "married" female doctor.

The city became unbearable. Staying any longer would mean losing herself. Marina made a desperate decision: with her last savings, she bought a small house in the countryside. There, it seemed, she could start anew.

And she was right. In the village, where there were hardly any specialists, she was welcomed with joy, and the locals even helped her settle in. The house was very simple, but the locals—kind and helpful—fixed the roof, warmed the stove, and helped her adjust to her new life.

Marina found a job at a health post, and a neighbor, a lonely woman in her sixties, was happy to watch Yuri while she was on calls.

Gradually, Marina began to feel almost happy. She had work, the respect of those around her, warmth, and a home. Yuri also adapted, although he sometimes got sad—there were no children his age in the village, and the local boys teased him: "City softy," "clumsy," "mama's boy."

But Marina believed: with time, her son would find friends. For now, he had his mother, and around them was the beautiful nature. There was a forest nearby, full of berries and mushrooms, and a wide river, where they said there were plenty of fish.

— And we have wild strawberries in summer—up to our knees! — the villagers told them. — You walk into the forest, and it’s like walking on a red carpet!

Since spring, Yuri had been asking to go into the forest:

— Mom, let’s go already! They say they taste better than strawberries, and it’s free! Please!

— It’s too early, son, — Marina gently held him back. — The snowdrops are just blooming now. Wait a little longer—soon we’ll wander through these forests. We’ll pick berries, mushrooms, maybe even find some nuts!

And then the long-awaited summer arrived. Sunny, generous. Yuri remembered his wish:

— Mom, let’s go to the forest today? Grandma Nyusha says the berries are already ripe. She would go herself, but her back hurts. Let’s pick some and bring them to her!

— Okay, — Marina smiled. — Only on the weekend. I promise—lots of berries, lots of impressions.

At the appointed time, they went to the forest. They got so caught up in gathering and playing that they almost reached the river.

— Should we go fishing here? — Yuri asked.

— You can’t catch fish so easily, — Marina laughed. — You need tackle, knowledge... Maybe we should ask someone to take us along?

But at that moment, her gaze fell on two men standing at the water’s edge. By their looks and behavior, it was immediately clear—they were not locals. One of them held a thick bag, from which something was faintly moving.

— Looks like it’s still alive, — one of them mumbled.

— So what? It will be alive now, then drown—who cares, — the other replied harshly.

— We should put some metal in there... Like bricks.

— Go find bricks, if you’ve got nothing better to do! — the first one snapped irritably. — Hurry up, I’m tired of this.

Marina’s heart froze. Something was clearly breathing in the bag. It wasn’t a human—too small—but an animal. And definitely alive...

If you'd like to continue or need more specific context, feel free to ask.. Read the continuation in the comments

PEOPLE AND POLITICS
With
*Ochereome Nnanna,* Wednesday, 23rd April 2025

*FULANI EXPANSION WAR, A FEDERAL GOVT PET*

Before his sudden, mysterious death, former Head of State, General Sani Abacha left us with an enduring, prophetic soundbite. He said: “If an insurgency lasts for more than 24 hours, then, know that government has a hand in it”. Way back on 8th May 2014, The Cable newspaper published a retweet of the late General’s daughter, Ms Gumsu Abacha, quoting exactly the same one-liner in response to Boko Haram “exploits”.

What would you say of the Fulani expansionism “insurgency” which has lasted 25 years? By “federal”, I do not necessarily mean the President Bola Tinubu administration, though it is also complicit as will be shown shortly. “Federal” here means the machinery of the Nigerian State, the ruling Establishment or dispensation, the power that be which produces and dictates to successive Federal Governments.

Since 1999, this power dispensing machine has produced five presidents – Olusegun Obasanjo, Umar Yar’ Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari and Tinubu, always making sure it does not fall into “wrong” hands. Only such mechanism could enact the magic of making Obasanjo president from jail, ensuring that no Northern candidate would stand against him. To the best of my knowledge, the Fulani wars of conquest started around 2001 in the Plateau area. Armed Fulani “herdsmen” were routinely massacring the indigenes to take over their fertile farmlands. The military, police, security and what have you, have failed to stop them despite several eye-service deployments.

But when the Tarokh people armed themselves and retaliated in May 2004, President Obasanjo declared a state of emergency and removed PDP Governor, Joshua Dariye, who was seen as encouraging his indigenous people to defend themselves. What did Dariye do later? He joined Muhammadu Buhari’s APC and helped the party capture the state in 2015. Buhari pardoned and released him from his 14-year jail conviction for stealing N2bn. Dariye could not beat them. He joined them, and was rewarded by Buhari himself, just as Adams Oshiomhole had promised all looters who join APC.

Lionhearted governors who were crushed became a lesson to others. Fight the State and pay for it; collude with the State against your people and be rewarded. When you see Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State running kitikiti-katakata to lick the toes of fellow governors from the North over the Uromi lynching, you know the fear the State exerts over occupants of powerful or lucrative positions.

When Buhari came to power in 2015, he saw himself as the Nigerian variant of Omar Al Bashir of Sudan, who armed Arab pastoralist militia, the Janjaweed, to conquer and annex the lands of black Sudanese, thus sparking the Darfur crises. Buhari was determined to make Nigeria the new home of his Fulani kinsmen from everywhere. He tried to enforce his Ruga, grazing routes, water resources and Livestock Plan policies throughout the country, but these were stiffly resisted. Buhari then threw open the borders for armed Fulani and their families, especially the nomads from everywhere, to relocate to Nigeria.

During the Covid-19 lockdowns, he and his powerful kinsmen used food and cement trailers and trucks to distribute armed Fulani youths in forests all over the Middle Belt and Southern states. It was clearly a well-organised operation aimed at forcefully grafting alien, violent Fulani elements among unwilling indigenous communities. They were camped in the forests where they killed people in their farms and harvested organs for sale. They kidnapped for ransom and used livestock to destroy farms. They flushed people out of their ancestral lands and occupied communities.

The Federal Government and its organs of security and coercion protected them from those seeking to defend themselves. They were promptly released when arrested by vigilante groups and handed over to the supposed law enforcement agencies. Government and (unfortunately, sections of the media) deceived the public, calling attacks on innocent Nigerian farming communities “farmers-herders clashes”. Government kept promising displaced people they would be restored to their ancestral lands but have now become permanent occupants of Internally-Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. The invaders are settling down and renaming conquered communities.

Federal Government refused to even acknowledge Fulani invaders as terrorists. Instead, they turned around to falsely slap that moniker on the Eastern Security Network (ESN) formed by the concerned diaspora Igbo through Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to defend Igboland.

When Tinubu mysteriously won the 2023 presidential election, I consoled myself that Buhari the Fulaniser was out and Tinubu, being a Southerner, would check the Fulanisation agenda. It has also been wreaking even more havoc in the South West, Tinubu’s home zone. But we were in for a shock. After initially arresting and detaining Bello Bodejo, the leader of the loquacious and violent Miyetti Allah Kyautal Hore, Tinubu quickly released him when the Fulani elite threatened him. He even went ahead to create Federal Ministry of Livestock to appease them, thus fully resuscitating Buhari’s Fulanisation agenda.

Tinubu holds on to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu even after releasing Fulani’s Bodejo and Sunday Igboho of Yoruba Nation. Under Tinubu, the cuddling of Fulani herdsmen terrorism continues unabated, and so do the endless barrages of meaningless condolence messages and empty promises. The entire landscape is filled with cowardly governors and political leaders who sell out their people for political power and lucrative posts. At this rate, the indigenous people of Nigeria are doomed.

Retired Lt-General Theophilus Danjuma warned before (and has just repeated the warning) that the Government is an enhancer of Fulani expansionism. “They collude”, he says. “They will not protect you! Arm and protect yourselves”. Danjuma, a hero of the Nigerian side of the civil war, has written off the armed forces he once served and led. Who are we to believe otherwise? Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB and ESN have once again been vindicated, even by Danjuma!

Self-defence is the first law of nature. The ball is in our court.

WE HAVE TURNED TO SPIRITUAL MEANS. WE’VE STARTED FROM KOGI AND KWARA - ADEGBENRO OGUNLANA

According to Punch, as insecurity escalates across Nigeria, various forest-based security groups have renewed their call for federal recognition, insisting they can combine traditional spiritual methods with local expertise to combat terrorism. Among them is the Agbekoya Farmers’ Society, whose Secretary-General, Adegbenro Ogunlana, revealed that spiritual interventions have already been deployed in parts of the country, following directives from the Ifa oracle.

He said, "We have turned to spiritual means. We’ve started from Kogi and Kwara."

According to Ogunlana, sacrifices were carried out across Yoruba-speaking regions, including Kogi and Kwara states, to ward off attacks. He claimed some community members aiding terrorists had been apprehended, stressing that the spiritual approach aims to restore peace and combat threats from within.

He lamented the absence of centralized leadership in Yorubaland and expressed concern that state institutions often discourage self-defense, even as terror groups operate using spiritual tools.

Ogunlana emphasized that the intervention became necessary as violent attacks continued to plague Yoruba communities, especially those with significant natural resources.

In response, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, acknowledged the worsening security situation and noted that discussions were ongoing with senior Yoruba leaders. He pointed to intelligence reports indicating that terrorists have infiltrated strategic areas, particularly mineral-rich communities. Adams warned that the infiltration of Ibadan and other cities suggests a deepening crisis, which the political class is largely ignoring.

Meanwhile, the Commander of Patrol and Guards for the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) in North-Central, Alhaji Muhammad Ahmed, urged President Bola Tinubu to sign a pending bill that would formalize their operations. He disclosed that the NFSS, formerly known as the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service, already has Senate and House approval and is only awaiting presidential assent.

Ahmed emphasized that real hunters, distinct from administrative personnel, possess spiritual abilities vital to confronting the nation’s security challenges. He claimed these operatives understand the terrain of the forests where terrorists hide and have encountered them on several occasions.
He expressed strong confidence that once the NFSS is legalized, spiritual forces alongside traditional bushcraft will be strategically deployed to neutralize criminal threats. Ahmed believes this dual approach will drastically reduce violence and restore national security.

JUST IN: Nigerian Hunters and farmers have called on the Federal Government to formally empower them to flush out bandits, Boko Haram insurgents, and other criminal elements hiding in forests.

Jack Ma, the co-founder of Alibaba and one of China’s wealthiest individuals, acquired 28,000 acres of wilderness in the Adirondack Mountains of New York in 2015. Known as Brandon Park, this stunning property spans mountains, forests, lakes, and streams, and was purchased for $23 million.

A passionate conservationist, Jack Ma decided to halt logging operations and transform the area into a sanctuary for wildlife and natural beauty. His vision aimed to protect the delicate ecosystem, ensuring future generations could appreciate the untouched majesty of this land.

This initiative underscores the growing importance of environmental conservation on a global scale. Jack Ma’s efforts remind us that preserving nature is not just a responsibility—it’s a gift to the planet and its inhabitants.