By Rafael Morais
Africa-Press – Angola. Once upon a time there was a certain man named Joãozinho. He wasn’t just any Joãozinho, he was a Joãozinho who, ironically, smelled the sweet scent of the highest seat in the kingdom.
He climbed high, higher than he had ever imagined. And from the top, he thought nothing could bring him down. But, as in every story of ill-digested power, the fall unfolded silently, day after day, amidst sighs of arrogance and broken promises.
In the final months of his reign, Joãozinho was restless. He spent long hours wondering who would succeed him. But not out of generosity or democratic spirit—far from it. It was pure fear. He knew, deep down, that the rules of the game had changed. Successors were no longer hand-picked, as in ancient times. Now they were elected. And elected by those who truly ruled the kingdom: the people.
Joãozinho, stubborn as an old donkey, refused to accept this new reality. He tried to rewrite the rules of the game. He wanted to relive the days when the king pointed the finger and everything was resolved with a wave of the hand. He rehearsed nostalgic speeches, rekindled frayed alliances, made hollow promises, and even issued veiled threats. But everything fell apart. The kingdom had awakened. And no one, not even the court concubines, wanted to hear about old Joãozinho’s adventures anymore.
The final blow came not from a sword, but from the collective conscience. Power was no longer hereditary, nor eternal, nor absolute. Kings now had a master. And that master, gentlemen, was the people, the true master of the throne, the ultimate decision-maker.
But Joãozinho, driven by an insatiable ego, hadn’t given up yet. He began to entertain a plan B. A sinister plan. He considered provoking social upheaval through harsh and cruel measures that would destabilize the people’s lives. He imagined accusing opponents of fomenting disorder, infiltrating provocateurs into popular demonstrations, and thus justifying the suspension of the Constitution, the dissolution of Parliament, the legalization of opposition parties, and the proclamation of a State of Emergency or Siege, all to maintain his position on the throne.
Only this time, the people were wide-eyed. They already know the tricks. And they no longer allowed the Johns of the world to play king at the expense of other people’s suffering.
Because the lesson is given: no throne is greater than the will of a tired but awakened people.
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