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Once upon a time there lived an old poor woman in a small hut lost in the heart of the forest. Every day she thought of ways to escape the loneliness and poverty she found herself. One morning, she lifted up her hands to heaven and on her knees she begged osanoghodua (God) for help.
Two moons passed but there was no answer from osanoghodua as her poverty and loneliness still lingered on but this woman still trusted Him to answer her. Seeing her pitiable state osanoghodua (God) decided to send her a living spirit called “if someone could do this for me” and this spirit had the power to make unimaginable things happen. The woman in gratitude to osanoghodua fell on her face giving thanks to Him and at the same time dancing with joy because her loneliness and poverty was finally over.
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When she became hungry she sighed and said “If someone will make me cooked food …..” her statement was not completed as there already appeared a big pot of rice, beans, yams and all kind of sumptuous delicacies and with excitement she dived in and ate herself to stupor.
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Then she said “If someone can just make me young….” This statement like the first was not completed before the hand of time was turned back and she immediately became young again and free of wrinkles. The idea of having a son crossed her mind so she once again said “If someone can just give me a son” and as usual a boy appeared and grew before her eyes into a man. The woman lived happily in the heart of the forest for many years with her son and when it was time for her to die, she blessed her son and passed the living spirit him.
After the death of his mother, the young man instructed the spirit to bury her dead body which he did, he then said to the living spirit “ build me a large village populated by men and make me king”, immediately a beautiful village filled with men, woman, children and all kinds of animals was created and the people soon gathered and made this young man king of the village.
With time the boy became reckless with the spirit, using it for his selfish gains and practically anything he could think of including harassing his subject and making their properties his.
He told the spirit to take him to the market square and prevent all eyes from seeing him of which the spirit did, then he said to the spirit “undress me “ the reckless boy continued. I guess he was about to have his bath in the market square. When he was naked, he heard a voice from above saying “I placed this gentle spirit under the control of your mother because of her pitiable state, I will not allow you dishonor my divine power anymore. So from now on be responsible for your actions”. The young man then opened his eyes that fear made him close and saw himself naked on a square full of people watching him with mocking and scornful eyes.
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He was so ashamed that he turned into the phrase “IF I HAD KNOWN” etc.
