Integrity Matters

At the position of death, a retired policeman, Olamide Cooper called his 5 children and after praying for them, advised them to follow in his footsteps so that they can have peace of mind in life and be comfortable with what they have and never be in a rush to make money because money is the root of all evil.

The eldest child, Adebola, a graduate of the University of Ibadan, looked at the other siblings and cried out, "Daddy, it's unfortunate you are departing without a dime in your bank account and you have two bank accounts. It is a pity you're leaving us the same wretched life you lived throughout your existence here on earth. I can never follow your footsteps, she continued.

Other fathers that were policemen who worked with you, that you tag and told us a story about them being corrupt, thieves of public funds, scammers, supporting wrong politicians when they died they all left houses, mansions, luxuries, money, and properties for their children; See the kind of comfortable, satisfied, wealthy, prosperous life they live and the schools which they attend throughout their life, some are currently not in the country.

You're dying after 40 years of being a policeman with just one damaged car which your father gave you and you never attempted to get one yourself. The only respect, privilege u have in this room is the award you won as the best Policeman in the country my younger one' was not even born, and nothing was given to you.

Even this apartment we live in is rented, you never for once tried to build or buy an apartment talk less of buying a land. I'm so sorry, I can't pretend to want to be like you and I can't follow in your footsteps. the most annoying thing is that you are dying because of common disease and we can't even fly you out of this country like the others can we cater for our mum and the little ones by living as you did in this part of the world How?

Daddy, please let's follow our course, let's paddle our own canoe"

A few days later, their father eventually died.

4 years later, Adebola finished her Masters Degree in mass communication. She applied for a job and went for an interview in an international communication company with the owners.

The interviewers had already written down a candidate which they wanted but they wanted to complete the tradition of interviewing all applicants on the list. As soon as Adebola sat before the interviewers the Chairman of the committee looked through her CV, nodded, and asked,

Hi Miss cooper, tell us a bit about yourself" and Adebola replied, "I am Adebola Cooper. My Dad, the late olamide cooper was the head of policemen in Enugu state and nasarrawa state in the north before coming to Lagos state, he also was the first person to have won the overall best policeman, and also served as Public Health officer for many years...."

But the Chairman cuts in, Oh my God, you are the daughter of Mr. olamide cooper? I can't believe it...He turned to other members and said "This is the cooper man was the one that signed my membership form into the Institute of law when I was told to learn about criminal law

when he served in our neighborhood in the North and his recommendation earned me where I am today. It was really difficult getting a man in such high office to do that during those years. You needed to be rich to get your form signed but the amazing thing is, he did all these free I was shocked that day.

I didn't even know his address, he never knew me from anywhere. He just did it for me wholeheartedly. I returned to his office after six months only to hear he was transferred. That was it and I never heard from him again. then He turned to Elizabeth;

"I have no question for you, consider yourself as having gotten this job, resume next week Monday, your letter will be waiting for you. For how your dad remained honest, valid, responsible, and served everyone with diligence, I trust you'll follow his path in this job.

Adebola cooper became the Corporate Affairs Manager of the company with two cars, one official and one for private use, attached to the office, with a company apartment and a car driver and a salary of 5,000,000nairasa per month excluding allowances and some tips from the profit made by the organization and other costs when she travels out the country for holidays every bill is on the company.

After two years of working in the company, the CEO of the company came to announce his intention to resign and needed a replacement. A personality with high integrity was sought after, again the company's Consultant nominated Elizabeth cooper.

In an interview, she was asked the secret of her success all of a sudden and the sudden skyrocketing profile. ...And in tears, she replied, my lovely Daddy, paved these ways for me. It was after he died that I knew that he was financially poor but fabulously rich in integrity, discipline, and sincerity, honesty.

She was asked again, why she is weeping since she is no longer a kid as to miss her dad still after a long time. She replied, "At the point of death, I insulted my dad for being an honest man of integrity, a man I will never following his footsteps, a man whose no interest in my life and my siblings. I hope he forgives me in his grave or wherever he his

I didn't work for all these he did it for me to just walk in So finally she was asked," Will you follow your father's footsteps as he requested? And her simple answer was, "l have already been doing that.

I have met a lot of people after his death and I haven't seen or heard anyone say a bad word against my dad's life in public service. I now adore the man, I have a big picture of him in my living room and my office. He deserves whatever I have after God.

Are you like olamide cooper? It pays to build a name, the reward doesn't come quickly but it will come however long it may take and it lasts longer.

Integrity, discipline, self-control, and fear of God make a man wealthy, not the big bank account, luxurious cars, and mansions.

Leave a good heritage for your children and the next generation. Are you building a good name for your children & or a fat bank account? Money fades, fame goes, cars get out of the system but a good name stays on forever.

Thanks for reading ❤

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