The misuse of power by those in authority leads to significant suffering and hardship for the masses.Discuss the validity of this statement using illustrations from Parliament of Owls by Adipo Sidang.

 When power is misused by those in authority to advance their agenda and for self gain it leads to widespread problems for  the society. This essay will explore how Sidang highlights the negative effects of authority when it is misused, focusing on the impact on both individuals and the community.

Money Bags uses the advantage of being the right-hand Owl of the Royal Owl to enrich himself. He is in charge of sponsoring all the bills forwarded by the Royal Owl .He is critical in decision making in the government of the royal owl. He sponsored the law that created Royal Trees,which legalised tree grabbing habit.(page 52). Because of this privileged position, Money Bags grabs every tree that will benefit him. For instance, he grabbed the sacred tree from the crows and displaced ten families of crows; then, he converted it into his secret tower of surveillance controlled by One-Eyed and his son.This left the crow bitter but Money Bags does not care about displacing them.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 which is crucial when faced with escalating dissent.

In addition, he uses his position as the Royal Owl's blue-eyed bird  to force the loyal owls to pass the Moonlight bill in Parliament so that he finds favour in the eyes of Royal Owl and thereby being rewarded handsomely.The law allows Money Bags to assume the role of Mr. Speaker when critical bills are tabled before parliament.He is also allowed to switch roles as he deems fit.In parliament, the loyal owls ,who are the majority ,are under his payroll.He instructs them to pass  the Moonlight bill which is unfair to the birds but favours the owls. He says there is no other option.Owls must vote in favour of the bill.Iron Lady exposes the law as a scheme by Money Bags to loot funds from the coffers of birds and channel them to private investments in unknown trees in deep forests,labeling it as theft and robbery sanctioned by parliament. Because of her stand she is send out of parliament and denied the opportunity to vote.Feathered beak is also kicked out of parliament for criticizing the way the speaker was conducting the debate on the bill. He complains that Money Bags with his girlfriend have stifled their attempt to genuinely debate the bill that will clearly affect the lives of birds in the kingdom.He also notes that Money Bags has many faces which makes it difficult for them to know whether he is speaking on behalf of Money Bags ,or on behalf of Royal Owl, or whether he is just speaking on behalf of those beaks that keep hooting and looting from the most remote trees to the most royal.( page 26).With the renegade owls out,the bill is quickly passed to law. Following the law's enactment, Money Bags seeks to  be given the security tender so that he can have control over the bird kingdom. He feels that all birds should praise the owls and worship Royal Owl and by default ,they will be worshipping him now that he is the second most decorated owl in the entire history.He is later rewarded with the following responsibilities;he will run the intelligence system,chair the security committee , seek viable alliances with the Lion Kingdom, sign partnership deals with the reptiles and most importantly, sit in the highest decision- making organ in the kingdom.( page 78).

Red string, black string and other puppet Owls use their position to kill Arum Tidi. Arum, a ground Hornbill, has worked as a chief propagandist for the Royal owl. 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.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 has a lot of information about the shady deal and underhand deal of the royal owls. This means Money Bags and the other puppet Owls fear his continued presence as he can spill the beans to the other birds. Money Bags still asks Red String to  use 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 cent.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.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.They killed him in order to silence him. 

Members Of Parliament use their position in Parliament to increase their; compensation and salary. Other birds are on the verge of dying because of hunger, which has been brought about by the plunder of resources in the Kingdom. Feathered Beak says that owls have been fighting over food for several nights. 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 ,consumes 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).The bill enables them to have more fried rats, baked mice, honey, and mayonnaise, while birds starve.

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.This law infringes on the privacy of the birds and compromises the security of their nests.

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.( page 33).The tax will go to Royal trees.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) who are critics of Royal Owl's leadership.

Money Bags and other Royal owls take advantage of being in power to eliminate any bird perceived to be an enemy of the Kingdom. Oyundi has been cunning and a brave critic of the Royal Owls government. She is the de facto leader of day birds and enemy of Royal Trees.She at one time sought the services of Ochunglo to chase away snakes that had been brought to eat eggs at the nests of birds. This does not go down well with Money Bags and his puppet owls. The owls felt she was messing up their plan to hoot and loot.( page 69).They attempt to get to her and kill her. She escapes their dragnet, and they massacred thirty Weavers, members of Osogo's family.Tel Tel mocks Red String that the Owls cannot get hold of her with all their heads together.The Owls spend sleepless nights because of Oyundi.Money Bags declares Oyundi a wanted bird,dead or alive because she has ,on a number of occassions,embarrassed the king.(page 47).Money Bags accuses her of crossing their borders to work with enemies and enemies of their allies.( page 50).She is arrested for treason when all she is doing is to agitate for fair treatment of the birds.She pleaded for amnesty and tricks the Royal Owl into believing that she is ready to work with him to unite the divided kingdom.( page 79).She uses the opportunity to learn the royal secrets which helps her to plot the overthrow of the Royal Owl.

Taking advantage of one's position in power for self-interest and gain is the misuse of office and should be discouraged. Most birds undergo a lot of suffering due to the misuse of power by Royal Owl and his cronies.