Bad governance can lead to the downfall of a government. Write an essay to support this statement citing illustrations from Adipo Sidang's play Parliament of Owls.
Bad governance often accelerates the downfall of dictatorial regimes, especially when rulers impose their will against the wishes of the governed. Once citizens grow weary of such misrule, they unite and ultimately overthrow the leaders, leading to the collapse of the government.
In Parliament of Owls, the regime’s downfall is partly due to rampant killings and assassinations. Omnivores and night birds, working with the ruling elite, orchestrate violence against the day birds and grain-eaters. Thirty-three weavers are brutally massacred under the orders of Money Bags and Royal Owl. Those who resist oppression are tortured and murdered at the royal trees. Figures like Straight Eyed and Arum Tidi become targets of assassination. Arum Tidi, for example, is killed because he possesses a damaging dossier implicating Money Bags and the royal trees in corruption scandals. His death, disguised as suicide, exposes the brutality of the regime and erodes its legitimacy. When the regime finally crumbles, a moment of silence is observed for all the birds killed in the struggle, symbolizing the cost of bad governance. (P 3-4, 9, 13, 34, 36, 42, 52, 59, 61, 64-65, 72, 114, 123, 127-128)
Another factor is the enactment of oppressive laws. The Moonlight Bill, sponsored by Money Bags with the blessings of Royal Owl, forces birds to retire by sunset, banning moonlight twittering and night hunting. This law unfairly favors the ruling elite while introducing illegal taxes that enrich Money Bags and his cronies. Birds are arrested for flouting these laws, while the ruling class remains immune. Demonstrations styled as the “Moonlight Protest” erupt, with Oyundi championing a plan to unite oppressed birds and restore fairness. The eventual fall of Parliament of Owls is therefore directly tied to these laws, which alienate the very citizens they should have protected. (P3, 6-7, 16-17, 21, 31-34, 36-37, 40, 42, 44, 52, 66, 69, 72, 74-75, 92)
The regime also crumbles due to unlawful arrests and detentions. Dissidents such as Tel Tel, Feathered Beak, and Iron Lady face arbitrary imprisonment. Journalists like Veteran P are constantly harassed for reporting injustices. When Tel Tel escapes from detention, Royal Owl goes so far as to issue a bounty for her capture, dead or alive. This abuse of power fuels widespread resentment. Eventually, Money Bags is stripped of his royal titles, arrested, and cuffed by his own Police Owls. His accomplices face life imprisonment for treason, and Royal Owl himself is ousted by Oyundi, who emerges as the new leader. (P 13-14, 16-17, 47, 74-75, 79, 84, 98-99, 103, 106, 112, 117, 120, 124)
Equally, the exclusivity of power weakens the regime. In Parliament of Owls, the owls monopolize leadership, believing themselves chosen by God for their intelligence. Royal Owl, Money Bags, and their clique arrogantly wield unchecked authority, claiming that day birds and grain-eaters will never have a chance to lead. This blatant discrimination pushes other birds— Sparrow, Weaver, Ostrich, Guinea Fowl, Parrot, Crested Crane—into forming coalitions to challenge the ruling elite. Even some owls like Iron Lady and Feathered Beak resist the backwardness of the parliament. Ultimately, when the golden beads are stolen, the once untouchable Royal Owl is rendered powerless. Even Police Owl abandons him, and he is chased out of parliament in disgrace, paving the way for Oyundi’s rise. (2-3, 7, 11, 15, 24, 42, 44, 46, 50, 56-57, 58, 118, 120, 123-125, 128)
In conclusion, Parliament of Owls demonstrates that bad governance inevitably leads to the downfall of dictatorial governments. Oppressive laws, unlawful detentions, systemic assassinations, and exclusivity in leadership fuel citizen resistance, culminating in the collapse of the regime.