President Buhari who is currently on a state visit to China,
visited the Former Chinese Imperial Palace otherwise known
as China's Forbidden city today April 12th. Read a brief
history of the forbidden city as written by Special Adviser to
Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, after the cut.
The city was built from 1406 to 1420 in the reign of the Ming
Dynasty Yongle Emperor. It served as the seat of power for 24
emperors, over the course of 491 years. And why is it called
the Forbidden City? Because it was not just for anybody. Not
for the hoi polloi, nor the flotsam and jetsam of society. Not
for the proleteriat, but only the privileged and dignified. The
poor enter at their own peril. It was off limits to them.
But then, the Hausa say "Seriki goma, zamani goma" (Ten
kings for ten epochs) and then times and seasons would
change. The Forbidden City, located over vast hectares of
land, with over 8,000 buildings and 1,800,000 sets of
artifacts, fell to the 1911 Revolution led by Dr Sun Zhongshan.
Yes, the good does not last forever, neither does the evil last
forever. The Qing Dynasty (which was ruling then) came to an
end, and the city was turned to a museum. Millions of
tourists throng the place today from differnt parts of the
world. A place that was once forbidden to commoners is now
host to anybody and everbody. That is why it is good to
belong to everybody, rather than to a privileged few.
A tour guide took us round the Forbidden City, with its
galleries of ceramics, clocks and watches, and other
treasures, most in pure gold. Members of the dynasty really
lived it up, drawing the wine of life to the full, and "the mere
lees is left the vault to brag of." (William Shakespeare).
The palace museum is believed to be the largest surviving
wooden palace structure in the world. Most of the treasures,
in gold, silver, jade, pearls and other precious materials,
represent the highest artistic level of their time, and the
splendour of the imperial family. Those of them who had died
before the Forbidden City became a public place, would turn
in their graves, if they know what has become of their much
vaunted royal abode. The good does not last forever, neither
does the evil last forever. Seriki goma, zamani goma. The
pauper can become a prince, while the prince can become a
pauper. Time and chance pertains to them all.

k

Na wah o. It's okay

lalasticlala

Another bad news for those people

They will flock here very soon.

After visiting China's Forbidden city we urge you to visit Nigeria's forbidden city of Sambisa.

We are waiting for the benefits of your trip, sir.

I was there too no biggie