The decisions we make whether good or bad lead to significant consequences.Discuss the validity of this statement using illustrations from Adipo Sidang's Parliament if Owls.

 Whatever decisions we make, we should always be ready for the results whether good or bad.In Parliament of Owls, the choices made by the characters, whether they are wise or foolish, result in major consequences.

Royal owl fails to act when it is necessary and this has dire consequences.He is the king of the birds. He maintains his power through fear and the control of perception. ( page 13,56).He keeps his position by creating impressive displays of power and managing how others see him, rather than by actively engaging with his subjects. This is evident by the fact that most birds have never seen him and will just be seeing him for the first time in their lives during the Unity Pact Celebrations.(page 88, 107) Injustices are happening in the bird kingdom. The snakes raided the birds' nests and stole eggs in broad daylight, and it was the work of Money Bags who organized the raid to create insecurity so that he could get the chance to introduce the law of Bird Protection, parliament of owls passes laws that only favour the owls but affect the other birds, yet Royal Owl does not intervene. Red String says the Moonlight Bill has the blessings of Royal Owl. Moreover, political assassinations such as the killing of Arum Tidi occur but the king does not act, he seems to condone it.Ochongorio wonders if Royal Owl is aware of all these things Money Bag does.Tel Tel responds by telling her that Royal Owl trusts him; he listens to him.(page 64).He is ill-intentioned just as his right-hand owl,Money Bags. Choosing to look aside is a bad decision he makes as in so doing he fails to address the mounting problems such as greed ,arrogance , starvation, corruption and injustices. This finally leads to increased unrest among the bird ,leading to a rebellion and the eventual removal of the owl leadership. The kingdom descends into chaos as a result of his failure to act when it was necessary.

Money Bags chose to betray the vultures and crows in order to strengthen his grip on power and manipulate the Parliament of Owls to his advantage.He is the king's right-hand owl and the gate-keeper of Royal Trees.He was Royal Owl's blue-eyed bird during the struggle for freedom.Royal Owl trusts him; he listens to him.He is  also ill-intentioned.( page 64). Money Bags tricked the crows and the vultures.He pretended to be impartial regarding the contest between the two flocks of birds over the security tender but secretly awarded the tender to Olik Tiga- an animal with teeth- which is a taboo.( page 68).This makes the birds to question his choice.Royal Owl is convinced that Olik Tiga would serve his interests but he is enraged to learn it was all lies.His work was to read the king's mind and gather intelligence on behalf of his master Money Bags.( page 119).He also grabbed the sacred tree from the crows and converted it into their secret surveillance tower, controlled by One -Eyed  and his son. He does not care whether or not the crows were displaced.This decision proved to be a bad one. While Money Bags initially aimed to secure his position, the betrayal eroded trust  between him and Royal Owl,the vultures and the crows and caused significant dissent among key bird factions. His manipulative tactics ultimately backfired, undermining his authority and stability.When Black String informs him that birds are planning a demonstration at parliament or Royal Trees, Money Bags found himself isolated and unable to rely on the support of the crows and the vultures crucial when faced with escalating dissent.He can only rely on Olik Tiga and the bat army to provide security to parliament and the Royal Trees.( page 46).The betrayal led to the alienation of the vultures and who subsequently joined the struggle for freedom.Since Royal Owl betrayed them,any bird that is an enemy of Royal Owl is their friend.( page 87).The resultant unrest and opposition from previously allied factions weakened Money Bags' control and contributed to the eventual downfall of the owl leadership. The decisions made created a fractured political environment that was detrimental to his leadership.

Money Bags and Red String decision to kill Arum Tidi is a bad one.He is the male propangandist  for Royal Trees.Arum Tidi was working for them spreading propaganda.He was loyal to them.He served the owls with his whole body ,soul and mind.Some months ago Money Bags dismissed Arum Tidi from his duties for leaking confidential information to the parrots about a secret activity within the kingdom but the moment Tel Tel refuses to be used by owls to mislead birds he gets the job back but not Money Bags' forgiveness.( page 64).Money Bags through his puppets hired the services of Arum Tidi to spread cheap lies and propanganda and further portray renegade owls as corrupt.( page 34).He is also contracted to sell the Moonlight Bill to the birds.He thinks the Bill will change the kingdom for the better.He was even heard saying the Moonlight Law will protect the hornbills too.His pay? A rat every night served with delicious soup at Royal Trees.He also gets a rare opportunity to dine with the king for the next seven nights.Money Bags still uses him to spread word to the birds about the homecoming party at the Royal Trees to celebrate the passing of the Moonlight Bill to law.Later the duo decide that they will use him and dump him at the right time.Once they confirm he has been able to control the birds,they will quietly cut links with him and then use the Moonlight Law to gag him and finally send him to the gallows.They will not pay him a single send.They fear that Arum Tidi might turn against them and betray their plans since he already knows too much.(page 36).The moment Money Bags suspects Arum Tidi of acting against their interests when he is heard speaking in coded language and singing a freedom song at a time when the birds are planning to stage a struggle for freedom against the owls,he orders Red String to look for One-Eyed to take him to the Water Stone point. (page 43).The death of Arum Tidi is later announced by Veteran P. This news makes Money Bags and Red String happy but they pretend to be mourning a fallen hero.Royal Owls even declares Arum Tidi a hero to be celebrated every Heroes' Day( page 61,72).He further suggests to the owls to have an extension of the Moonlight party right beside Arum Tidi's grave to celebrate the passing of the Moonlight Bill.Money Bags goes ahead to warn all birds against speculating about the death of Arum Tidi.( page 69). They are  also forbidden from asking any questions.The killing of Arum Tidi is a bad decision as it backfires since it infuriates and angers the birds who find it unacceptable and intensify their resolve to oust owls from leadership. Osogo encourages Ochongorio and Tel Tel who are shattered by death of Arum Tidi to stay strong and hopeful.(page 63).The birds unite under Oyundi.Once Tel Tel finds the mysterious golden bead she gives to Oyundi who dips it in the river at the spot where Arum Tidi was murdered.( page 125).This renders the Royal Owl powerless.Oyundi asks birds to observe a moment of silence in honour of all the birds that died in the struggle including Arum Tidi. Arum. His death unites the birds against the owls, accelerating the push for change and leading to the removal of the owl leadership.

Parliament of owls decides to pass discriminatory laws against the Other birds but only favours the owls. The Parliament passed the Birds Protection law. Money Bags, a powerful figure in the kingdom, orchestrated raids on bird nests using snakes to steal eggs, creating fear among the birds.Oyundi was declared an enemy of parliament of Owls and by extension,the kingdom of the birds because of her role in kicking the snakes out of the birds' nests.They felt she was messing up their plan to hoot and loot.(p69).And justifying the need for stricter enforcement of the law Money Bags exploited his influence by manipulating security tender, clandestinely awarding it to Olik Tiga, who possessed the ability to read minds, to serve his own interests.His work was not just about searching nests and infringing on the privacy of the birds but also to read the king's mind and gather intelligence on behalf of Money Bags.Furthermore, the law granted the Royal Trees the authority to search nests without warrants, with Olik Tiga the  blind bat conducting inspections.They also passed the moonlight Law, which introduced a curfew after 6 p.m., reducing the number of hours for the birds to twitter and fly around. Moreover, the law introduced a, tax which was an extra burden  during a period of impending hunger among birds,justified as a necessary compensation to the owls for protecting the kingdom.( p 33).Notably, owls exempt themselves from these restrictions, illustrating their privileged status above the laws they enforce.Arum Tidi is contracted to convince birds to support this new bill claiming that it will change the kingdom for the better.Straight -Eyed faults the bill because it will undermine the rights of birds that twitter in the moonlight and omnivores that hunt in the night.The bill is a way of getting funds to gag rebel owls and other birds and bury the truth to never see the light of day. Iron Lady exposes the law as a scheme by Money Bags to divert funds for personal gain, labeling it as theft and robbery sanctioned by parliament (pg. 34).In parliament, dissent from figures like Iron Lady and Feathered Beak is stifled by Money Bags and Socialite Owl, who manipulate proceedings to swiftly pass the law (pg. 29-32).Red String reminds all birds to adhere  to the Moonlight Law.Any bird that breaks this law shall be arrested (p74). The Moonlight law is meant to contain day bird and grain- eaters.It is supposed to deal with birds like Osogo and Oyundi.(40).The Fried Frogs for Owls Law is aimed at providing for the needs of owls, allowing them to have additional food items such as fried rats, baked mice, honey, and mayonnaise each night(p23,25).The bill increases the owls' compensation from one fried rat a day to three fried rats, frog soup, and baked mice with honey and mayonnaise (p30). Royal Owl ,consume a lizard at least every last hour of the night, while other birds struggle to find water and have to fly long distances to find it (p28). The owls live in luxury while other birds suffer from scarcity and hunger (p102).Discriminatory Laws Passed by the Parliament of Owls alienate and anger the other birds.The birds plan a demonstration at parliament or Royal trees.They want to protest against the Moonlight Law and a number of laws the parliament of owls has passed.( p44). Oyundi advises the birds that if they want to have a kingdom in which all birds feel comfortable, safe and secure with a sense of belonging and identity they must change their laws and have fair representation in their parliament.She urges them to unite for one purpose and leads them to a united rebellion against the birds which eventually results in the overthrow of the owl regime.

Royal Owl decides to use divide and rule to cause divisions among birds.The kingdom is divided into two tribes-owls and other birds. The other tribes are nothing but enemies .According to him owls are the only birds that can fly the highest in the night.The other birds like vultures and crow that claim to be night birds are not night birds.Even among the owls there are renegades who are disatisfied with the way things are done in the kingdom.They are accused of carrying owl's secrets and sharing them with ordinary birds.They also expose the owls weaknesses.Royal Owl thought that by keeping these factions divided and focusing on internal disputes, he could maintain control and prevent any unified challenge to his authority.He confides in Money Bags that they rule by making ordinary owls believe they are sorrounded by enemies from outside the kingdom.( p56).His choice to let these conflicts fester without intervention was a strategic error.Instead of resolving conflicts and integrating the powerful factions into his rule, he allowed dissent to grow unchecked, resulting in a more volatile and hostile environment.This led to internal political wars among the big omnivores: the vultures, the crows, the hornbills, the owls, among others. Dissent was building against the owls; the vultures and the crows argued that they were not benefitting as the big omnivores, from the rule of the owls. The secret protest was well planned and secretly funded by the vultures. Royal Trees had to counter this but the fight among the big omnivores was like big cats fighting each other in the Lion Kingdom. Police Owl against Money Bags,Vultures against Crows, and then rebel owls attempted to pass a vote of no confidence in Mr. Speaker, in vain. (P65). The dissatisfaction among the vultures,hornbill and crows, who felt marginalized and betrayed made them to join Oyundi and other birds in the struggle for freedom.The  ineffective responses to these tensions, weakened Royal Owl’s leadership leading to his downfall.

 Money Bags decided to admit Oyundi into the Parliament of Owls a decision he regrets. Oyundi joins the parliament of owls as an owl,not an ordinary day bird.She shall be called Fire-flinch Owl. The owls shall teach him how to hoot and how to see at night.He underestimates Oyundi’s threat and he is sure that Oyundi had exhausted her tricks and was no longer a danger.He also plans to kill Oyundi to eliminate any possible danger. Money Bags believed that integrating Oyundi would consolidate his power and bolster his influence within the Parliament.The decision was flawed because Socialite Owl had warned Money Bags that Oyundi’s association with Ogila Nyakarondo, a notorious figure for treachery, made her a severe threat. Socialite Owl cautioned that appointing Oyundi was even worse than having vultures over the grave of Arum Tidi. Ignoring this advice, Money Bags failed to see that Oyundi’s presence would exacerbate existing divisions and instability within the Parliament, leading to greater internal conflict.The decision to admit Oyundi had severe repercussions. Oyundi benefited significantly from this misjudgment; she was appointed Speaker of the Parliament, replacing Money Bags. Using her new position, Oyundi exposed MoneyBags for sharing the royal secrets to little day birds .She later dissolved the Parliament of Owls and renamed it the Flock of Birds, effectively dismantling the existing power structure and shifting control to herself. This strategic move not only removed Money Bags from power but also allowed Oyundi to consolidate her own authority.Royal Owl, in response to Money Bags’ betrayal , decided to punish Money Bags. He stripped Money Bags of all royal titles and state commendations, publicly denouncing him and removing him from his influential position. He orders the police Owls to arrest him.Additionally, Royal Owl, who had previously relied on the golden bead for his power and wisdom, found himself powerless after Oyundi revealed that the bead had been removed and cast into the river. Without the bead, Royal Owl’s authority crumbled, marking the end of his reign and the beginning of a new order under Oyundi’s leadership.(p92-125).

Osogo chooses to fight for freedom and equity, motivated by the injustices he and his community have endured. The oppressive laws passed by Money Bags and the violence inflicted on day birds and grain-eaters, such as the orchestrated snake raids and the murder of Arum Tidi and her relatives  drive Osogo's resolve.He tells Red String that a time is coming when all the injustice will come to an end and all birds will have a sane parliament.(p 2).He questions the legitimacy of the owl’s rule when Red Strings tells him that the owls,because they have the largest eyes,will always be at the helm of power.He also criticizes the discriminatory laws that allow omnivores and night birds to continue killing and murdering grain-eaters and day birds for the sake of protecting the kingdom and parliament if owls does nothing about it.  Osogo’s decision is beneficial as it inspires Ochongorio and Tel Tel to remain strong and hopeful as they fight for justice because hope is their only weapon.If they give it away,they are finished.(p79).Osogo always plays a mournful tune on his flute, symbolizing his commitment to justice and resistance against the regime's brutality.He is asked by Oyundi to use his flute to rally day birds and challenge Royal Owl’s authority (p87). Osogo's actions, including his alliance with Oyundi, contribute significantly to the eventual dismantling of the corrupt Parliament of Owls and advancing justice for his relatives killed in cold blood by Money Bags and his goons.

Oyundi decides to lead the birds in the struggle for justice and political reform. Oyundi’s decision to undermine the owl regime was driven by her understanding that the entrenched power structures were oppressive and corrupt. She tells the birds that what they need is justice and peace.And if they want a kingdom in which all birds feel comfortable, safe and secure, with a sense of belonging and identity, they must change their laws and have fair representation in parliament.(p.92).To achieve this they start by befriending their enemy and strike when they least expect.Her strategic maneuvering as a result of being a student of Ogila Nyakarondo began with her calculated entrance into the Parliament, a move designed to weaken the existing leadership. Oyundi strategically aligned herself with the rebels and discontented birds, demonstrating her commitment to overthrowing the corrupt owl regime.The renegade owls carry the owls secrets and share them with her exposing weaknesses in the owl's leadership which she exploitedd to her advantage.(p 48). The birds have formed a coalition to save the kingdom.(p11). This alliance was crucial in gaining the support needed to challenge the ruling power.She makes the owls believe that she is ready to work with them.Money Bags even thinks she ran out of tricks and that is why she surrendered. After being appointed as the Speaker, Oyundi leveraged her new authority to dissolve the Parliament and rename it the Flock of Birds where all birds shall be represented.   Moreover, Oyundi's decision to reveal the truth about the golden bead—a symbol of Royal Owl’s power—was another strategic move that destabilized the old regime. This move made Royal Owl to relieve Money Bags of all his duties before orderung the Police Owl to arrest him abd all his accomplices. By casting the bead into the river and publicly denouncing Royal Owl's authority, Oyundi not only stripped the owl king of his symbolic power but also further eroded his control over the kingdom.Oyundi's strategic decisions were instrumental in her survival and eventual rise to power as the queen of birds.

The stand made by the renegade owls to ensure that there is good governance in the kingdom pays off.( p34). When the Royal Owl and his minions are send packing they get to stay.Iron Lady gets to be appointed the Majority Leader in parliament.( p121).

In summary we must be mindful and accountable for our choices, as they inevitably lead to significant and often irreversible consequences.