It was a particularly hectic day. I was tired and also discouraged over so many things. I had gone to CMS, Lagos that day to see the publisher of my books as per royalty. I had been particularly broke financially for some time. This was the cause of discouragement.

   When the publisher had no good news for me then I moved from discouragement to depression.

  As I sat opposite the CMS Bookshop waiting for a bus to convey me to Mainland a man of average height in a linen garment approached me . As soon as he got to me he began without any courtesy of common greetings:

" I am sent to you from the Most High that you shall receive a Visitation today at the Golden Hour, then you will understand the mystery surrounding your nation and what is to come."

Immediately he turned away and began to leave. In a moment he disappeared into the crowds. I did not think much about this because my personal economic distress weighed so heavily on my mind. Yet I could not banish the message from my mind.

   "What is the Golden Hour?", I asked in my thought.

 And suddenly like a voice speaking behind me, I heard: "When the clock strikes 12"

 So immediately I left for home with great expectations.

  I told my wife to expect a visitor in the house. Someone will be visiting me with an important message.

   We left the gate open for the night but there was neither calls nor visit. I waited and waited but no one. 10.00, 11.00p.m but no visitor.

   By 11.30 I locked the gate thinking this could be another ploy from kidnappers and bandits. I went upstairs.

  My wife was now asleep and the children in their rooms but somehow I could not sleep. I tried to sleep but could not, yet there was no visitor.

   Then just by 11.59, I closed my eyes and that was all I remembered. The moment I shut my eyes just a minute after, exactly at the Golden Hour I was in a realm that I could not describe.

THE VISITATION

Immediately I found myself inside a jungle, a very thick jungle. I saw all kinds of beasts and humans in this jungle. Somehow I wondered how humans could be living in a jungle like this. As I beheld this scene and was taken in by it I heard a Voice saying, "Daniel, make this man to understand what he is seeing."

Suddenly I saw a man approaching in white linen towards me. He was a  nobleman and regal like a prince.

  As soon as he got to me he began: (without even courtesy of greetings as we do on earth he went straight to his message)

" I have been sent from the Highest Realm to unveil to you a part of the Mystery, the Great Mystery about your nation.

"The jungle you are seeing is your nation. That is what it is now but a change is coming and the jungle shall soon become a city, a paradise of glory on the earth that will enrich and benefit mankind. That is your destiny, a prophetic destiny that cannot change".

When he said that immediately a screen appeared. And I saw a beautiful city, a paradise on earth. What I saw is marvelous. This time I saw humans going about their duty with joy and I could not see any stress or sorrow on any face. I saw a new nation, a nation in which all black people of the world were justly proud. It was indescribable.

So I asked my informant, why then are we a jungle of killing fields, a haven of terrorists and bandits if we are destined to be a paradise on earth?

" That is why I have come. You will not understand that unless you understand the Great Mystery surrounding your nation. There is a mystery which even your Writers, Seers and Prophets, and Alfas and Pastors do not yet know.

I am here to show you a part of that mystery and why and how a paradise became a jungle and how a fruitful field became a wilderness that no one wants to inhabit.

"Today I will tell you a part of this, the Mystery of the Four Beasts, and particularly about the fourth who is more dreadful than all the others.

" If you remain faithful with your art and you continue to be devoted to your craft I might come again and show you about the other part of the Great Mystery.

* Now look at it...."

The moment he said that a screen appeared. Immediately I saw a beast in form of a buffalo. I began to wonder at the beast and suddenly a human face appeared, a familiar face. I was stunned because it was a familiar face and one of the prominent rulers of the jungle I just saw.

  Seeing my shock he immediately stepped in.

"The beast you are seeing once ruled in that jungle and has ruled again. He was the one who began the Dispensation in which you now are which you call "people rule" but which we call "mob rule." That beast represents the first kingdom when this Dispensation was inaugurated.

 "Most of the problems you have today have their origins under that era. The neo-liberal economic policy based on crony capitalism assiduously pursued by that government laid the foundation for the bandit state, the jungle in which you now live where kidnapping for ransom and terrorism is the norm.

  "Even the foundation for executive lawlessness and destruction of internal democracy and disobedience to court orders that have now become mountains threatening your democracy was laid under that era. Although some good was done by that government. But the real problem began with that kingdom. It took this nation away and far away from the destiny that it was created to manifest.

  "This is the sad thing about that era. That king was brought back to power to correct the terrible atrocities and grievous mistakes committed during his first term as a military man. Unfortunately, rather than correct the mistakes he compounded them and aggravated the conditions. He is one reason why this remains a jungle till now.

"Let us not waste more time on this one because his judgment is set."

THE SECOND BEAST

Then the second beast appeared which represents the second kingdom. It was then I understood that a beast represents a kingdom, power, or authority.

" Now look at it..."

And suddenly another face appeared in form of a beast. This second beast appears like a Mouse. Sly and slow, very cautious yet very cunning and deceitful. But he was a man of straight mind. I beheld with great admiration until a human face appeared whom I also recognized as a ruler of the jungle.

"This is the second kingdom. This would have helped the nation towards her appointed destiny but it was brief."

On the screen, I saw that it was weak and not firmly rooted and appears and disappears like an interlude in a television program.

  "We shall not waste time on this as well."

Immediately it was taken away from the screen.

THE THIRD BEAST

I looked at my informant and I saw he was sad, very sad. He became even more emotional as he tried to touch on the third beast. His voice sounded plaintive and I could observe he was feeling pain inside.

He began.

"One of the worst evils done by that first beast is to bring the second and the third beast to power.

"The third beast is the reason why you remain a jungle today and why you will remain a jungle for some time. Indeed you need to work hard and pray that politics will not lead to war."

I began to wonder what this third beast must have been.

Immediately the screen appears and I saw a beast. I saw a swampy area, a riverine area like a Delta and a beast appeared. The beast that I saw was like an alligator for lack of a better word.

   I saw this beast and against all odds and expectations power was given to it and the third kingdom was inaugurated.

Then a human face appeared well-known to me. And I wondered with great admiration.

Seeing my trepidation my guardian immediately stepped in:

" The man you are seeing represents the third kingdom of that jungle. He has a reputation for simplicity and gentleness but he is sinister and devious at heart.

"Now look at this.."

I turned to the screen and what I saw baffled me. I saw immediately as that government was inaugurated a band of scoundrels, thieves, swindlers, bunkers, etc rose up and attached themselves to it and took position to help themselves with the national till. It was then I understood why the Economist of London newspaper referred to that era as one "industry-scale robbery." They looted, squandered, wasted, stole... It was like the nation was about to collapse and everyone helping himself to something.

Then my informant looks at me.

"That is why you are in this jungle today. That is why there is so much suffering everywhere. That is why your naira cannot stand in its own market

" This third beast, by its misrule and mismanagement made way for the fourth beast under which you are now trapped."

I was dazed and speechless.

Sir, please tell me about the fourth beast which is more dreadful above all others

THE FOURTH BEAST

"This is the reason why I came to warn you. Your nation is now in the Valley of decision. There is a lot of work to do and if you do your work well you will escape the fourth beast as you had escaped the first three."

Please show me the fourth beast.

"Three beasts have passed through your nation which represents the three eras in what you call democracy and the beast that now rules is the fourth."

The moment he mentioned the "fourth" the screen appears and I saw a beast. The beast that I saw looked much like a cow with very brutal horns, very dreadful.

  I also notice that in all the beasts I had seen before none has horns and in each, I also saw a human face. But not this one.

  All I saw was the beast and his threatening horns. Very brutal, unfeeling, lacking in the milk of human kindness.

I saw that it uses its horns against anyone who resists or confronts it.

  I saw that the human face was only towards its next of kin, his flesh and blood and none from elsewhere can see the face. Even on the screen, I could not see it.

I saw then as the jungle was convulsing in great terror, oppression, bloodshed, and injustice. I saw deaths and killings which the authorities do not even bother to acknowledge talkless of investigating or sanctioning. I saw terror, executive terror, and lawlessness, what a late sage called "naked outright fascistic terrorism" from the state and state-supported bandits.

My informant began as I wondered:

"This is the day of the fourth beast, the beast with the face of a man.

"I have come to warn you very urgently that you are in the midst of "life - or - death" situations but if you will do your part and be faithful to your craft and to the art your nation will escape the trap that has been set before it.

"The mystery of the fourth beast is that it is the last. This is the greatest temptation to befall Nigeria and if you can triumph over this beast and its wiles and guile and strategies you will escape and become the city that you saw at the beginning, a paradise on earth as you were ordained to be.

"The beasts try to divide the people because it is in the division of the people that they derive their authority and hide under the refuge of lies and mediocrity. You must unite the people.

" The beasts try to drive wedges among the races of Nigerians and the nation using religion, ethnicity, regionalism, etc but it is your duty to expose them and show the people how to unite. In your togetherness there is victory; in your

 unity, there is hope for the black man and for the world. But if they can divide you they can bring war and they can continue to rule you.

"This is what makes this fourth beast particularly odious and despicable before God with its divisive tendencies, nepotism and tribalism. But you will escape from its clutches. This era too shall pass."

A MESSAGE FOR WRITERS

"This message is given to you because you are a  writer. You are not called because you are a writer, you are a writer because you are called. Never forget that.

 "Writers have a stake, a major stake in this battle and especially in the current struggle that is raging over your nation and in the bigger Conflict that will soon engulf the world.

"If you will be faithful to the craft then your nation will be saved and the world will overcome. There is a great battle now raging over your nation and most people and even writers and scholars don't understand it. It is your duty to cause men to understand. It is your role to cause men to see. The role of a writer in a society is not to teach but to light the lamp and cause men and women to see the issues as they are.

"Saul Bellow was right: the way to defeat evil, tyranny, and fascism is to write well. Alexander Zolsenitstysn has shown that.

"There are two things writers in your time must know. It is essential to win this Conflict that is ahead and to defeat the beasts, especially this fourth beast.

"One, you must have an overriding motif in your writings. As things stand it is difficult to see any motif or hear any coherent message from the art. No specific ideology that is being projected or pushed. How then do you mobilize the people and unite them for a common cause and for a revolution?

"This is why your writings won't produce any social change or popular actions. Rousseau had an ideology, a motif that guided all his writings. So was Voltaire. The result was the French Revolution. Every member of the Revolutionary Assembly who gathered in 1789 had a copy of Rousseau's book.

"The Puritans had an ideology which shows through their writings. Read John Milton for instance and you see it even in his prose works and poetry. They precipitated the Puritan Revolution.

  "Today you have powerful tools and mediums which were not available in my time but most of you are not making good use of them to reach the people.

  "The second issue is you must speak to particular contexts. It gives power and efficacy to your discourse. Max Weber has dominated European thinking for almost 100 years.

Why? Karl Marx even though some of his conclusions are unsound has lived in the imagination of millions for more than one hundred and fifty years. Because they spoke to particular contexts.

  " The trouble today with Nigerian writers is, it is difficult to see what is even been said when I gather all your offerings together. No ideology, motif or context. You won't cause a change this way."

WHO ARE YOU?

At this point I became curious. Who is this person speaking to me? His voice was familiar and even his face yet I do not seem to recognize where I saw him or knew him.

I finally summoned courage.

"Sir,  who are you?"

He was hesitant and drawn back.

"Why do you care for my name, you need to care about the message rather than the messenger".

"But I must know the messenger to attach weight to the message", I protested.

He relaxed and smiled.

" I am the one they call D. O. Fagunwa."

"My God! I am honoured to meet you."

"As much as I am to meet you."

"How?" I protested.

"I can no longer write or influence the things on earth, in the same way, I would have loved, but you can still do. So I am also honoured to meet you."

"Tell me how did you get the inspiration for your writings? I have read virtually all of them"

"I cannot tell you much about that. However, I can tell you this. Writers should stay close to nature, the rhythm of nature helps your inspiration. I love rivers and riversides and the hills because they helped me to connect with nature and with powers that moved the world.

  "A poet of Shakespeare's standing cannot emerge in today's London with its artificial lights, underground trains, high-rise buildings, noise, and crowds, etc. Only a 16th-century London with its closeness to nature, serenity, wood, birds singing, etc could have produced that immortal soul.

 Don't run to Lagos and Abuja because of money, stay close to nature where inspiration can come to you easily."

I then asked this question seeing he was now relaxed:

"Which of the two do you consider the greatest writers between Soyinka and Achebe?" I asked him.

Almost before I could finish he snapped back:

"That is a needless question. It is an idle question which many people ask.

  "Strictly speaking it cannot be answered. It is like asking who is greater between a civil engineer and a mechanical engineer?

"Each of them is great in his own way. When it comes to depth, the mastership of the language, and imagination I consider Soyinka the greater. But when you are talking of clarity of expression, simplicity without being simplistic, style, economy - to use one word to create a world of meanings, Achebe has it.

IN CLOSING

" I have to go back to where I came. But before I return I must tell you this.

"God did not set up the four beasts, your disobedience and hard-heartedness paved the way for the Occult Hierarchy to bring these about in your nation and God permitted them.

"However, the time of the beasts is over and a new era is about to be inaugurated.

"What Prophet Daniel predicted in his Book is now about to be fulfilled beginning from your nation. He said in the days of these Kings, these beasts the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall remain forever.

" Now look at it..."

 

Then a screen appears and I saw a stone without hands. And this stone began to destroy everything on his path and all the memory of the four beasts. And I beheld as this stone became a mighty rock that filled the nation and began to spread all over the earth.

 Then I saw and beheld a human face but the face was shielded and I could not see the face directly. He was a man of average height and a pleasing personality, a man of learning and culture but he is not someone known to the public.

Fagunwa turned to me and began to speak.

" The stone that you saw shall come and it shall be the last kingdom that will rule over the earth beginning from your nation.

"The Most High shall make a very good use of a Nigerian and he shall destroy all the bitter memories,  heartaches and evils that the beasts had subjected this nation to. Then the jungle that you now live in shall become the city that you saw and this killing fields shall yet become the paradise of glory upon the earth. This is the destiny of Nigeria which the beasts were trying to destroy. It is time to counter them and defeat them.

"But you must do your part. You must work. Tell the people to stop seeing themselves as Northerners and Southerners, as Muslims, Christians, traditional worshippers but as one  people created by God so that His purpose can come to pass quickly."

With that he began to walk away. And I too followed him.

   It was like the cloud came nearer than at previous time.

  He began to walk fast and I also moved faster following him.

  Then all of a sudden we reached a big river so big like the ocean that I didn't see the end or breadth.

He looked at me and said this is what the Christians sing about. That at the riverside there shall be a parting of the temporal from the eternal.

 " Here we must finally part."

As he was talking to me a white stallion appeared very robust and strong. And came for him. I noticed that this stallion was not touching the ground and its body projects heat and flames of fire so that I could not move near it.

  It lowered down for the august visitor in September to mount. He mounted the horse but somehow I knew he still has a word for me.

  The horse waited.

"With this horse the world becomes a global village. I can travel to London in a second and be in New York in another minute.

  "Moses, if you remain faithful to your craft without fear of death or anything you too will be given a stallion like this. [ For the very first time he called me by name showing affection]

" And you will meet other great souls, writers who have gone before you and even before me..."

He was in this last sentence when the white horse rose and began to wade through the sea yet without touching the ground.

  I watched as surely as the stallion began to ascend into the cloud and deep into the blue sky until I lost sight of it.

It was then I saw I was still in the wilderness besides the jungle and the river. I began to think and ponder on this when suddenly I woke up.

   I was shocked to see my wife and children around the bed.

  " Any issue?"

"This is the third day you have been on the bed sleeping without a word only breathing," she told me.

 It was then I realized it had been a dream. But the experience to me was real and I could not forget it. Whether it is dream or fantasy or hallucinations or whatever I do not know but I had an experience.

 

   

 

Moses Oludele Idowu