In a world divided between the uplands and the aquatic realm, the Water Tortoises have not only exploited the Upland Tortoises for their own enrichment but also created formidable barriers to economic, political, and social progress in the uplands.
Through a calculated strategy, the Water Tortoises dismantled the very foundations of the upland community, ensuring it would remain stagnant and dependent for generations.
The first and most direct form of exploitation was economic. The Water Tortoises, lacking labour in their aquatic environment, manipulated the Upland Tortoise leaders with enticing gifts such as mirrors, dry gin, canned foods, and other luxuries.
In exchange, the leaders sold their strongest and most industrious members to serve as labourers in the marine world. This systematic removal of the upland’s most capable workforce crippled its economic potential.
The Upland Tortoises, deprived of their best and brightest, could no longer develop their own resources, build infrastructure, or engage in meaningful trade. Meanwhile, the Water Tortoises used the labour of the enslaved Upland Tortoises to build their own agricultural and industrial base, growing richer and more powerful.
The economic imbalance grew, with the uplands increasingly dependent on the marine kingdom for goods and assistance. Any attempt by the Upland Tortoises to reclaim their economic autonomy was met with sabotage — insecurity such as kidnapping and terrorism were incited among them, and economic agreements were manipulated to keep them reliant on the water kingdom’s exports and relief.
Beyond economics, the Water Tortoises also meddled in the political affairs of the uplands. They strategically fostered divisions among the Upland Tortoise communities, manipulating local leaders and stoking conflicts to prevent any form of unity or resistance.
By keeping the upland Tortoises political landscape fragmented and unstable, the Water Tortoises ensured there would be no organized effort to reclaim autonomy or challenge their dominance. They created puppet leaders who prioritized the Water Tortoises’ interests over those of their own people, further entrenching their hold over the upland territories.
The cultural influence of the Water Tortoises was equally insidious. Recognizing the power of culture in shaping identity and resilience, they targeted various aspects of upland culture, including religion and education.
They introduced new religious ideologies that undermined traditional beliefs, sowing confusion and division within the community. This cultural disruption weakened the social fabric of the upland society, eroding its sense of purpose and unity.
In the realm of education, the Water Tortoises promoted curricula that glorified their own achievements while downplaying or distorting the rich history and potential of the Upland Tortoises.
Over time, the Upland Tortoises began to lose faith in their own heritage and capabilities, seeing themselves as inferior to their aquatic counterparts. This psychological manipulation reinforced the narrative of the Water Tortoises’ supremacy and the inevitability of upland dependence.
The Water Tortoises’ multifaceted approach to exploitation and control reveals a deliberate strategy to suppress any possibility of economic, political, or social progress in the uplands. By manipulating leaders, dismantling cultural foundations, and undermining economic autonomy, they created an environment where the Upland Tortoises could neither thrive nor resist.
This narrative serves as a powerful reminder of how external forces can use cunning and strategy to maintain dominance over a country such as ours, creating obstacles that appear insurmountable.
The story of the Upland Tortoises is a call to recognize these dynamics, to understand the value of unity, self-reliance, and cultural pride, and to resist manipulation by those who seek to exploit for their own gain.
Only by reclaiming their economic independence, political integrity, and cultural identity can the Upland Tortoises hope to overcome the legacy of exploitation and chart a course toward a more prosperous and just future. This is a typical example of what is happening in Nigeria.
