OGBE-SA
If a Babalawo is in grave want,
Let the Babalawo lie not.
If a herbalist is in need,
Let the herbalist not be dishonest.
Let no one lie or display dishonesty
Because of accountability when they die.
These are the declarations of Ifa to Orunmila,
When unknown people (pretenders) were waging war against him
He was advised to sacrifice
He complied.

Orunmila was finding it extremely difficult to make ends meet. He tried many things he knew, but all to no avail. He was always telling people to be steadfast, honest and sincere but he was not successful. His honesty did not pay him good dividends. On the other hand, all those who were dishonest were very successful. They had all the enviable things of life. They were all making jest of Orunmila that in spite of his honesty, he was a total failure. Consquently, Orunmila went to the group of Awos mentioned above for Ifa consultation. The Awo informed Orunmila that he must continue to display transparent honesty in all his thoughts, speeches and deeds. They also informed him that he would be able to overcome his problems and eventually get to the root of them by discovering who and what were responsible for this lack of success. Orunmila was therefore advised to offer sacrifices. He complied. He was then told to be watchful and patient.

A few days after the sacrifices, some of the apparently successful people who engaged in falsehood came to Orunmila to advise him to stop being honest, since truthfulness was unrewarding. They asked Orunmila to consider putting little lies into his business in order for him to be successful. Orunmila turned down their advice and told them that they should remember that everyone would be accountable to Olodumare whenever he or she dies. He said that he would continue to be truthful in spite of his wants. They got annoyed and left.
Before long, however, many of them were caught impersonating Orunmila, deceiving people and extorting various sum of money from them. Many were caught stealing. Many were caught trying to blackmail others. Some were exposed for claiming to possess certain privileges or authority that did not belong to them. At the same time, the qualities of Orunmila were recognized and for this reason, he was respected, honored and made the Olooto-Aye, "The Honest Man of the World" He was very happy and he was praising the Awos thus:

If a Babalawo is in grave want,
Let the Awo lie not
If a herbalist is in need,
Let no one lie or display dishonesty
Because of accountability when one dies.
These are the declaration of Ifa to Orunmila
When unknown people (pretenders) were waging war against him.
He was advised to offer sacrifices. He complied.

Now yea pretenders, you have all been exposed
Yea pretenders, I now know the Python,
Which pretended in likeness of the Viper.

You pretenders, you have all been exposed.
I can now see through impersonators
Who claimed that he is Orunmila himself
Yea pretenders, you have all been exposed
Foolish pretenders.

Reprinted with kind permission from Fasina Falade. Please visit his website Ijo Orunmila.