By Segun Durowaiye

Sir: Be patient to consume these great messages. The concept, ideas and reality of one man dying for the people was not born today or yesterday.

We can think of King Oedipus of prehistoric Greece, of Beowulf, the Scandinavian King, of the Lord Jesus Christ who died for the sins of all mankind, or those two princes among men – Martin Luther King Junior in America and Albert Luthuli in South Africa who gave their lives for their oppressed black brothers.

One quality that all these great men had in common was a fierce integrity that urged them to hold fast to the truth they saw, a truth they found big enough to live by, great enough to die for.

In Nigerian literature, one character that I consider an imaginative brother to these real men was that of Okolo in Gabriel Okara’s, ‘The Voice.’ Okolo was of riverine people and his story began after his return to his hometown, Amatu, after finishing his education abroad. This man’s deepest dynamic thrust was a quest in search of “IT”.

For Okolo, the quest was just in search of “it”. Have you got “it”?” he would ask the utterly corrupt Chiefs, leaders and politicians of his community. He intentionally inquired if they had the principles of truth, love and uprightness in their hearts and character?

And this statement and sentence always annoyed those warped-minded leaders and they hated him passionately because of his penchant and quest for truth, honesty and integrity.

These unwholesome, corrupt and evil-minded bunch of people were so filled with anger that they eventually conspired and arranged for his death. “Have you got “it” ?” he would ask these filthy-minded leaders and it always filled them with anger and derision. So, they plotted his death quickly.

Okolo in Okara’s book revealed a man who spoke for the masses.

He stood for truth and nothing else. In all our lives and existence, in this terrestrial world, we should always strive for truth, love, integrity and honesty. At the end of the day, it pays well and we would all smile.

Truth is a virtue we should all earnestly crave for in our mundane lives. It is still the best policy after all, but human beings hate it passionately. Yorubas have a saying, “Otito koro, omo araye o fe.” meaning, “Truth is bitter and human beings hate it with passion.”

Money and wealth or filthy lucre is ephemeral and would not last till eternity, but a good name, like diamonds will stand the test of time, and would be like a precious stone living in the hearts of people forever.

Work real hard towards building an empire of pure truth; and your good deeds would surely take a great place in the archives of the world and humanity would cherish it for eternity. That way, you would surely carve a niche for yourself and live forever in the hearts of people and generations to come.

Think about it.

Segun Durowaiye can be reached via 08055356855.