• The Tortoise and the Birds

Selfishness destroys opportunity.

Long ago, in a quiet village nestled in the heart of Nigeria, there lived a clever but deceitful Tortoise. Known throughout the animal kingdom for his cunning nature, the Tortoise often devised elaborate tricks to steal food from others. He thrived on manipulation and selfish schemes, always thinking of new ways to benefit himself at the expense of his fellow creatures.

One day, exciting news spread through the animal world: the King of the Heavens was hosting a grand feast, and all the birds were invited. It would be a magnificent celebration, with abundant food and music high above the clouds. Upon hearing this, the Tortoise grew jealous. Though he desperately wanted to attend, he faced one glaring obstacle—he had no wings and could not fly.

Determined to find a way, the Tortoise devised a plan. He approached the birds and pleaded with them, saying, “Dear friends, we are all creatures of the same Earth. Would it not be generous of you to help me reach the heavens? I promise I shall behave with the utmost respect and dignity. Let us share in this momentous occasion together.”

The birds, wary of the Tortoise’s notorious reputation for deceit, hesitated. They had been tricked by him before and were not eager to be fooled again. But the Tortoise continued to beg, swearing that this time he was sincere. Eventually, moved by his persistent appeals, the birds relented. Each bird offered him a feather, and with all of them combined, the Tortoise crafted a pair of makeshift wings.

Before they began their ascent, the Tortoise suggested, “Since we are about to dine with royalty, it would be fitting for each of us to adopt a noble name, one worthy of the occasion. As for me, I shall take the name All-of-you.” The birds found this amusing and agreed, each selecting a regal title of their own.

When they reached the heavens, they were welcomed to a spectacular feast. The food was lavish, the air filled with heavenly aromas, and the celebration had a grandeur unlike anything on Earth. When the King of the Heavens instructed his servants, he said, “Serve the food to all of you.”

The Tortoise, ever the opportunist, immediately stood up and declared, “That food is for me! The King has said to serve it to All-of-you, and that is my name.” Before the birds could react, he eagerly consumed every dish served, gorging himself on the feast while the birds looked on in shock and growing anger.

Outraged at being so blatantly deceived, the birds confronted the Tortoise. But it was too late—the food was gone. Furious, they reclaimed the feathers they had lent him, leaving the Tortoise wingless and helpless in the heavens.

Realizing the consequences of his greed, the Tortoise panicked. He found a bird willing to carry a message to his wife on Earth. “Please tell her to prepare a soft bed of leaves and cushions in our yard,” he pleaded. “I will soon return, and I need a safe landing.”

However, the birds, still seething with resentment, decided to teach him a lesson. They delivered a false message instead, telling his wife to prepare a hard surface of stones and sticks.

With no wings and no other choice, the Tortoise leapt from the heavens. He plummeted to the Earth below and landed with a terrible crash. His shell shattered into pieces from the fall.

Though it was later patched together, the cracks remained—and to this day, the Tortoise’s broken shell serves as a lasting symbol of the price of greed and trickery.