Over the years I have been on the Steemit platform, I have always seen and known Steem as a decentralized space. This however was what actually gave Steemit a uniqueness over several other platforms. It also encouraged and drove many persons to joining the space.
However, things began to take a new look and shape following the sale of the platform by the Steem founder. This brought a lot of frenzy and feud on the ecosystem and uncertain did also set it.
Many viewed the exchange of baton as a beginning of new developments and improved marketing for Steem and its tribes. Some saw it as a betrayal and as a not so good move. To worsen the issue, the new Steem owner was not able to state clearly and categorically his purpose and intentions. Rather he at some points made statement that was quite unfavourable to the existing members and governance.
In order for the existing members, particularly the witnesses to not lose their governance over the Steemit system into the hands of just one person. Remember, we were not a centralized platform and the witnesses wanted things to remain that way.
In view of that, the Steem witnesses decided to initiate what they called a soft fork in that it was a reversible fork. This was to somehow restrict the use of power by the new owner of Steemit, considering that everyone was unsure of his impending intentions and moves.
Nevertheless, the unexpected and unprecedented ensued as the Steem owner Mr. Justin, saw the witnesses' act as a sort of coup. And being a business man, he didn't want to lose his investment.
This then led to the connivance of the new Steem owner with several exchanges of which included the likes of Poloniex, Huobi and Binance to regain optimum and maximum control of the Steem ecosystem. The exchanges got to power up their Steem and then was used to vote in new top 20 witnesses pushing the previous top 20 witnesses to the bottom of the table. This then implies that as at of now, Mr. Justin has taken over the steem blockchain.
so, this has been the latest trend of the events on the steem blockchain of recent. So, I ask...
Are we still a decentralized platform?
Do we still possess that uniqueness over other social media platforms?
This act done by exchanges and the new steem owner has brought even more uncertainty on the platform. As we speak, several persons are powering down their steem power which is not a good sign. More shocking is the resignation of top members in the Steemit Team such as 
https://beta.steemit.com/steemit/@gerbino/a-new-chapter
https://beta.steemit.com/steemit/@andrarchy/my-resignation-from-steemit
https://beta.steemit.com/steemit/@vandeberg/an-update
You may be asking or having some thoughts in your mind like....
Is this the beginning of the end of Steemit? Are we heading towards centralization that we worked hard against?
Truth be told, I do not have the answers to those questions but I am fully optimistic that things can only get better. Let's just wait to see how things turn out. Meanwhile, if there is anything you can do to salvage the situation, keep at it.
Kindly drop your views
Your Steem Friend
@Tomlee
