Tortoise as The Smartest in His Kingdom
Intervened During Hunger Crisis
by
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When all the animals including Dung Beetles gathered at the town-square none but Tortoise knew what to say or do about the crisis. It's the Tortoise that said, "let us brainstorm, seek ways to end this food crisis," having briefed the King and Queen Monkey. This is also what human beings do, right? We seek means to end poverty, treat and heal patients of sicknesses, diseases; seek to reduce or end hunger and starvation---even prevent death and wars where preventable. Example is a year ago when humans started working creatively and the hardest even to this day to find vaccines that will help protect the world from this deadly coronavirus pandemic, which has unfortunately killed more than five hundred thousand Americans and more than two million deaths globally. May their souls rest in peace! With three vaccines now created and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), more than 100 million doses have been given to citizens thus society is hissing a sigh of relief, but cautiously as restrictions remain in place despite some states trying to run faster than their shadows; a recipe for possible spikes. Other countries of the world are also getting the vaccine. Of course confirmed virus cases in America are over twenty-nine million, while global case count is more than one hundred and twenty-two million as Johns Hopkins Resource Center statistics shows. Therefore, Tortoise, like the foremost American immunologist and internationally respected Dr. Anthony Fauci and other scientists (medical practitioners and professionals) who cracked the code to fast-tract vaccine discovery and production, took on the starvation challenge that plagued the animal kingdom. At the meeting Tortoise welcomed the participants and opened the way for talks. The King and Queen told the audience the obvious threatening situation. They then appealed to all adult animals present or absent to try and contribute small portions of whatever food they may have left if any. Tortoise knew times were tough and deadly, and there may be no food left with struggling members of the kingdom, but summed the courage to ask anyway and it worked. Initially most of the animals refused, but few agreed to contribute little of what they’ve left. Some said they’ve no food left so may get sicker and weaker or die soon if there’s no help. By the time the Tortoise finished persuading them and letting them know that those who contribute the most will become new Kings, Queens, and kingmakers shall be honored with new titles and awards while new offices are created when the crisis ends those who have agreed to contribute. Lions and Tigers, Snakes declared they will have to immediately hunt their portion of the food so they can donate. This meant they will hunt down other animals present at the meeting. Although Tortoise objected to this method the King Tortoise finally agreed by saying, "you know how you feed. We will not tell you how to get food for donation, but you’re prohibited from attacking any member present" if they even have the strength. Other animals agreed to Tortoise’s position. They became eager to contribute and vowed the gathering will punish any member of the kingdom that refused to obey. The King and Queen Lion, Snake and Crocodile accepted Tortoise’s proposition. They promised to donate their food in a week. All the participants accepted Lions and Snakes, others’ proposal. In the end all animals obeyed; they went home to gather their portion and waited to donate. Tortoise and the Monkeys recommended two weeks as the time to gather their donation. They said by the first day after two weeks rolled out the animals should be ready to donate. Shockingly Dung Beetles, which Ogonis call Kpaabi, like the Ants weren’t affected by the hunger crisis. They rolled and stored millions of tons of food underground. Their foods are feces (faeces) or poop. And studies have it that Dung Beetles’ methods of digging and burying feces underground for food helps fertilize the soil thus great source of manure for actual human farmers across the world. Studies also show they’re important source of pest control and human waste disposal therefore contribute to preventing easily settled and widespread diseases and viruses among other benefits. By the way, Dung Beetles were the first to offer donation at the meeting. Five of them promise twenty million tons of food. At first most of the animals rejected their offer because they’re feces. Realizing some animals such as rabbits and some domestic dogs, hippopotamus and pandas, even younger elephants, and chimpanzees feed on feces because they’re nutritious as experts say, they accepted and advised them to channel their donation only to those members that feed like them. As the two weeks set for collection came the Lions and Tigers, and Crocodiles, Elephants were asked to join others to mobilize, visit every home and ensure that every animal fulfill their promise or pledge. Ten Monkeys and fifteen Parrots joined them. Camels and Horses, five of them each also joined and served as transportation vessels. Parrots did a great job sounding warnings or alarms as they got closer to the houses of animals that made promises and others that were absent but were given timely message to contribute.
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About the Book
Tortoise as the Wisest and Smartest in His Kingdom is an Ogoni (African) folklore creatively told to instruct humans using animal subjects as interventionists. In this story, King Tortoise, as in many Ogoni stories, is considered the wisest and smartest yet one of the creepiest and smaller creatures in the animal kingdom. As a result, in an era that witnessed a devastating hunger crisis never seen in the animal kingdom, Tortoise stepped up and used his smartness and an instance of creepiness to mobilize and help his kingdom survive the hunger/plague. With his wisdom, after mobilizing struggling animals and persuading them to donate a portion of whatever food they might have, no matter how small, the animals were able to collect several million tons of food and shared among themselves. With his leadership, members of his kingdom subsequently planted more seeds that grew and produced lots of food that lasted for a long time. These efforts helped end food scarcity in the animal kingdom even though they still have to seek food to this day. By his efforts and in collaboration with others—among them monkeys, lions, parrots, and horses—animals then and today have been fortified, as they vowed not to allow another hunger crisis destroy them. Nevertheless, they face one serious threat today, and it’s global warming and climate change, which also threaten human beings. Although millions of animals, fishes, other aquatics, birds, and plants died by the time Tortoise came up with a solution, a crisis that could have wiped out all animals was averted. King Tortoise pulled the plug while the food was about to be shared. He asked other animals to group themselves by name and called himself All of Us. As sharing began, his name was first on the list. The sharer announced the name All of Us, and King Tortoise stood up and attempted to claim all the food, arguing that his name meant all the food belonged to him alone. This move angered all the animals. Sadly, they were badly beaten and broken by hunger that fighting Tortoise was not an option. At this point, King Tortoise laughed. He beat his chest and said he was kidding yet proved he was the wisest of all in the kingdom. Irrespective of his wisdom, he declared, “I am also very humble and committed to servicing my kingdom, hence the intervention.”