THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ‘IDOL’ KING

Once upon a time,
There lived a man who was desperate to be crowned a king
He made lofty promises like prosperity to the people his reign would bring
He was old and frail yet he assured the people he was wise, able and capable
He hired the robe of modesty to showcase he would be just and incorruptible
A self-acclaimed man of integrity, he claimed his status was unblemished
His past history is infamous but with propaganda his image became polished
He was rebranded from a tyrant to a democrat who cared for the people
At a time the kingdom was in disarray, her wealth was looted by corrupt people

The people were disenchanted with the then incumbent king, it was evident
They wanted another, a messiah figure who was more like heaven sent
The man masqueraded himself as the ‘holy one’ to be placed on the throne
The gullible masses believed when he swore corruption he wouldn’t condone
As soon as he settled into office, he began dishing out excuses and blame
For every problem he faced, he accused his predecessors without shame
He plunged his kingdom into deep recession and the people began wailing
He was failing and derailing but his infallibility his sycophants kept hailing

He told the people he ‘belonged to everyone but nobody’ but he lied
Whatever wrong decision he took his blind followers say it’s justified
Whoever dared to criticise his tactlessness and lack of vision was vilified
The once ‘humble king’ became intoxicated with power like a mad Emperor
The relative peace that was enjoyed was replaced with the reign of terror
For he allowed his kinsmen perpetuate evil without facing dire consequences
He promoted nepotism and he divided the people with divisive utterances

His wife criticised him in public; he rebuked her with a misogynistic remark
He shut his ears to wise counsel, selective justice became his trademark
He was encircled by an evil cabal who had no interest of the masses at heart
He broke every promise he made to be just coz he wasn’t honest from the start
A leopard doesn’t change its spots they say, his critics were vindicated
Freedom of speech was threatened under his watch, critics were persecuted
He used his power to brutally suppress dissidents who opposed his wickedness
His kingdom suffered bloodshed daily he was indifferent as the masses were hapless

The people were dying in misery whilst he was wallowing in self-righteous behaviour
He was full of hubris because the ignorant and poor idolised him as their saviour
The foolish king abused his golden chance to write his name in gold on the walls of fame
His lack of intellectual depth and gaffes embarrassed and caused his people great shame
He was a misfit who rode on the backs of the poor then abandoned them afterwards
Instead of taking the people to greater heights, he took them many years backwards
Dashed the hopes of many and betrayed the trust of the majority who made him a king
When his four-year reign ended, the people celebrated the epic fall of the idol king.

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