Most people especially the youth want to do things that will make them trend or become celebrities no matter the cost or consequences. Sadly, being honest is likely not going to make you become a media sensation or a celebrity. You will likely not also be made a brand ambassador or earn a political appointment in most governments for being honest. Honest people are fast becoming like endangered species.
Most individuals in Nigeria who complain about corruption and the attendant mismanagement of public funds only do so because they are not beneficiaries of the (corrupt) system. The moment they begin to reap any benefits, their lips are likely to be sealed as they would have been soiled with the oil of corruption.
It is such persons who are proponets of the "who honesty done help" mantra. A mantra that has gained wide acceptance in Nigeria which aims to discourage people who decide to do the right thing by being honest.
Anyone can claim to be honest, but the true test of honesty is when you're faced with an opportunity for self gratification which you could easily get away with because no human eye is watching . It is in such situations that the true character of people (as it pertains to honesty) is revealed. I quite agree that times are tough (financially) so it becomes easy for one to be tempted to take a walk on the dark side of financial impropriety.
How many can beat their chests to say they will return a bag of money that someone lost ? or they will not touch a dime from funds mistakenly paid into their accounts.
If you're a champion for the cause of "who honesty done help" then probably this article is not for you as you may be heartbroken if you read it till the end. But if you're seeking stories to inspire you to continue on the rough and tough road of honesty , you're in the right place. I will attempt to shed some light on the courageous and I dare say uncommon acts of honesty of some Nigerian citizens. Their names are captured in the photograph below.
These are their stories in brief.
Bashir Abubakar, an Assistant Customs Comptroller General turned down an offer of a $ 412,000 bribe from drug traffickers to look the other way and allow the import of regulated drugs (tramadol) into the country.
Achi Daniel and Francis Emepueaku were security guards who returned a bag forgotten by a passenger at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport. The bag contained valuables and some US dollars. The duo contacted the owner, returned the bag and wait for it. They rejected some money the thankful owner offered them as a show of appreciation. They each are reported to have received half a million Naira from their employer as well as scholarship to diploma level.
Josephine Ugwu, a cleaner at the same airport is reported to have returned the sum of 12 million Naira, $ 600,000 and 3 million Naira respectively to their owners who had misplaced the said amounts of money.
Yusuf Umar was a receptionist at a hotel who returned $ 100,000 which had been left behind (at the hotel where he worked) to the rightful owner.
Mary Olufunmilayo was a pensioneer who returned 2 million Naira erroneously paid into her account by the Ekiti State Government. She is reported to have been rewarded with 100,000 Naira by the Ekiti State Government.
Chidiebere Ogbonna returned 1.8 million Naira which he discovered as the content of the carton for an item he had purchased.
Imeh Usuah was a commercial cab driver who returned 18 million Naira forgotten in his vehicle to the owner( who had boarded his vehicle).
Adijat Olarenwaju was a casual street sweeper who found a bag containing thirty thousand Naira while doing her job. She opted to take the bag to a media house so that the owner could be reached to retrieve the money. Due to this display of honesty she eventually got a job from the Lagos State Government, cash rewards amounting to more than half a million Naira as well as scholarships for her two children.
Those who align with the unfortunate mantra may argue that there is little or no material gain from being honest as seen in the rewards the honest individuals in this narrration received. Some might even make jest of the fact that some of them didn't receive any monetary rewards or recognition, so why go through the 'trouble' of being honest.
The answer is simple but for those who have decided to pledge servitude to dishonesty, it may be difficult if not impossible for them to grasp. These individuals did what the did because it was the right thing to do. While doing so, their motivation was certainly not the monetary reward or hope of recognition but something beyond what people whose moral compass is broken can comprehend.
Shukran
Danke
Merci
Gracias
ขอบคุณ
ধন্যবাদ
Спасибо
for reading.
