EDITORIAL: "A Fi Ibi Su Oloore" — The Tragedy of Burnt Ladders in Igboho and Oke Ogun

Ayekooto Media

 

 In my previous editorial, I addressed the deeply entrenched 'Majidun' syndrome—the powerful forces in our society who violently guard their peaks and actively ensure no one else rises above them. They are the gatekeepers of progress, suffocating the dreams of the upcoming generation. 

But today, we must confront a different kind of tragedy, one that is arguably more heartbreaking and sociologically destructive to Igboho and the entire Oke Ogun region. It is the tragedy encapsulated in the profound Yoruba proverb: "A fi ibi su oloore" (Rewarding a benefactor with evil). 

If the 'Majidun' refuses to drop the ladder for others to climb, what do we call the man who was graciously pulled up the ladder, only to reach the top and set that same ladder on fire? 

The Burden of Gratitude

Across Igboho, Saki, Iseyin, and the broader Oke Ogun landscape, we have witnessed honorable men and women—political leaders, business mentors, and community elders—who bled to lift others up. They invested their time, resources, and social capital to elevate their protégés from obscurity to prominence. 

Yet, when these beneficiaries reach their peak, a dark psychological shift occurs. Suddenly, the presence of their benefactor becomes an irritating reminder of their humble beginnings. Because small minds cannot carry the heavy burden of gratitude, they resort to betrayal. They bite the fingers that fed them, hoping that by destroying their makers, they can rewrite history to claim they made themselves.

This betrayal is not a new phenomenon; it is a timeless psychological flaw that literature and history have captured through two tragic archetypes: the Brutus Syndrome and the Caliban Complex.

The Brutus Syndrome: The Kiss of Judas

In William Shakespeare’s "Julius Caesar", no dagger pierced Caesar deeper than the one held by his closest friend and protégé, Marcus Brutus. Caesar could defend himself against his enemies, but when he saw Brutus among his assassins, his heart broke before his body died. His final words, "Et tu, Brute?" (Even you, Brutus?), remain history’s greatest cry of a betrayed benefactor. 

In Oke Ogun politics and business circles today, we have many Brutuses. These are the trusted allies and political godsons who were given the keys to the empire, only to align with opposition forces to dethrone the very leaders who crowned them. They often mask their betrayal in noble excuses—claiming they did it "for the community" or "for the greater good"—but beneath the rhetoric lies raw, unchecked envy and ambition. 

The Caliban Complex: Weaponizing the Gift

If Brutus betrays out of ambition, Caliban betrays out of resentment. In Shakespeare’s "The Tempest", Prospero took in the savage Caliban, nurtured him, and taught him how to speak. But how did Caliban repay this monumental gift? He declared: "You taught me language, and my profit on't / Is, I know how to curse."

How many times have we seen this in Igboho? A mentor takes a youth, teaches him the secrets of the trade, introduces him to vital political or business connections, and gives him a voice. The moment this protégé gains a foothold, he weaponizes the very knowledge and connections he was given to sabotage his mentor's businesses or political structure. He uses the language his master taught him to curse his master in the public square.

The Consequence for Oke Ogun

The danger of this "A fi ibi su oloore" culture is that it is slowly destroying the fabric of mentorship in Oke Ogun. 

The Death of Altruism: When a man is severely burnt by the protégé he lifted, he naturally closes his doors. He becomes a 'Majidun' not out of malice, but out of trauma. 

The Suffering of the Innocent: Because one ungrateful godson burnt the ladder, dozens of loyal, hardworking youths standing at the bottom of the ladder are denied help. The elders simply say, “Look at what so-and-so did to me after all I did for him. I will not make that mistake again.”

A Call for Character

Ambition without character is a disease. As we build the future of Igboho and Oke Ogun, we must remember that loyalty is the currency of honorable men. 

Do not burn the ladder you used to reach the top; you may need to climb down, or better yet, you may need to hold it steady for your own children to climb. He who repays good with evil will eventually find that the peak he fights so ruthlessly to secure is nothing but a lonely, barren rock.

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David Alani Ige (The Scribe)

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Ayekooto Media

David Alani Ige is a seasoned journalist, strategic analyst, and the visionary publisher of Ayekooto Media. With a relentless commitment to archiving Nigeria's political realities and delivering the unvarnished truth, he has built a formidable platform for deep-dive reportage and editorial excellence. He is widely known by his readers and peers as "The Scribe".