OF SPOKEN WORDS AND WARS.
By Taiye Olaniyi
" Eyin ni ohun ti o ba ti ja bo ko se ko mo". Yorubas pride greatly in spoken words in both the ordinary and more meaningful sense of it. There is the impression that one should always think before speaking and then they warn " Words spoken are like eggs if broken cannot be retrieved."
Aside from what we say when cracking Jokes which times could be vulgar, spoken words have potencies in Yoruba incantations, mantras, and prayers, and the negative side to it is casting spells and curses.
Spoken words vary from their pedestrian nature to their level of high significance at the Spiritual Planes.
Moses in the Bible was mindful of what he would say to evoke obedience from King Pharaoh. Jesus the Christ in the Church Holy Communion Liturgy was and is regarded as Humanity's Spokes Person in the Throne of God, the Creator.
In Hebrew Kabbalah, the Spoken words are a means of unraveling the potency of power from the Tree of Life but which remains esoteric and ever would be veiled from the profane eyes no matter even their hierarchies in the Church both Orthodox and/ or Pentecostal.
Spoken words generate ripple effects on whom and to whom are spoken including the geographic space occupied.
Worldwide, good words have been spoken to make sane and insane mankind so also certain personages have put the world on fire due to what they spoke and as harbingers of calamities.
Wars and skirmishes of war bring back to human memories the woes in times, tides, and affairs.
In Nigeria, the oratory power of Awolowo, Sardauna of Sokoto, and Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe if well reviewed as put in black and white are what make us believe Nigeria once had" Leaders" in rulership toga.
Today, we are tottering in shame because those who speak most seem to be putting our house on fire, and making Nigeria a bunsen burner.
Am afraid for the togetherness of the relics called Nigeria by those to be respected but disrespecting our continuity as a Nation.
Hmmm as the elders are speaking words of wars fiddling with our destiny, the youths in their insane minds speak words of violence as if their today is burnt they would have a serene tomorrow.
Since " God does not play dice with the Universe", according to Albert Einstein, why are we Nigerians both highly and lowly placed always speaking words inhuman and destabilizing to the peace and tranquility of the Nigeria nation?
Yorubas in wonderment of how destructive spoken words could be, Instruct, " Bi Oju ri Enu a dake". " " The Eyes should tarry to think before speaking about what the eyes have Seen."
We should reflect heavily this time around as our rulers and accomplices speak the words they are speaking " There is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and miseries." William Shakespeare.
Please it is important we watch our words so that we don't set Nigeria on fire.
Taiye Olaniyi, a retried Postman of the Nigeria Postal Service, is based in Lagos.