ARI SE, LA RI KA: What Will History Write Beside Your Name?

ARI SE, LA RI KA: What Will History Write Beside Your Name?

There is an ancient, philosophical Yoruba saying that echoes with timeless gravity: "Ari se, la ri ka, ari ka ni baba iregun." It translates simply to this: 'It is what a man does that is recorded; the record of one's deeds is the ultimate father of justice and reckoning.' When the chapters of our lives are finally closed, when the dust of political posturing, transient wealth, and earthly vanities settles, what will you truly be remembered for? What verdict will history pass upon your existence? What do people whisper about you today while you walk the streets, and what will they say when you are no more?

These are not questions for tomorrow; they are mirrors we must look into today.

The Two Legacies of Igboho

If we open the rich history books of our ancestral home, Igboho, the names of men and women of old stare back at us. 

We remember the great legends—the selfless architects, the community builders, and the selfless patrons whose footprints are still visible across our land. To this day, whenever their names are mentioned, spontaneous prayers flow from the lips of the people. Their memories are blessed, and their works remain immortalized in the collective heart of the town.

Yet, on the flip side of history, we also know the names of those who wielded power, influence, and resources only to plunder, neglect, and marginalize their own people. Mention their names today, and the atmosphere fills with grumbling, bitterness, and regret. They lived large, but they left empty. They acquired titles, but they earned scorn.

The Development of Igboho is in Your Hands

The backwardness or prosperity of Igboho is not a curse handed down by the gods; it is the direct cumulative result of choices made by you and I. 

Whether you reside right here on native soil or hustle in the distant diaspora, Igboho bears the scars of our collective actions—and our deliberate inactions. Too many of us look away when the town cries out for help. Too many hoard their connections, wealth, and voices, waiting for a government that may never care enough to rescue our heritage. 

A town does not develop by mere wishing; it is built by the sweat, blood, and deliberate sacrifices of its own people. 

Use Your Power for Good

Whatever God has blessed you with—whether it is spiritual influence, political clout, intellectual capacity, financial muscle, or a public media voice—this is the time to deploy it. 

 If you have political access, do not use it merely to secure your family's future while your community rots. Use it to attract infrastructure, jobs, and development to Igboho.

If you have wealth, invest in home soil. Build pillars of empowerment. 

If you have an intellectual voice or a platform like mine, speak truth, challenge the status quo, and rally our people toward a common, progressive front.

Let us strive hard so that when our race is run, history will not just absolve us—it will celebrate us. 

As I always say from the depths of my soul: Ayekooto, mo wi temi ooo. We only pass through this world but once. Make your life count. Let your name evoke prayers, not curses. Whatever power you hold today, use it to make Igboho a better place. 

Igboho must rise. History is watching.