The Suitcase, The Money, and My Conscience

This thing happen in my imagination but honestly, it still dey shake me somehow. Imagine say you dey waka go that your minimum wage job wey tire you, no joy at all, but you dey go cos life no dey wait for anybody. On your way, you just jam one big suitcase for corner, nobody dey around, you look left, you look right… you open am, na so you see say na full $500,000 dey inside. Dollars o, no be naira. My heart for don jump comot my chest

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At first, I go shock. Like, is this a trap? Or maybe na prank? But the thing look real die. My first thought no even go money, na safety. What if say camera dey somewhere? Or person just wan setup person?

Later that day, I hear for radio say one popular politician one of those wey we sabi as money long pass River Nile don misplace im suitcase. The description wey them give match the exact one wey I see. I just weak. My mind come begin run marathon.

I dey live from hand to mouth. That kind money fit change my whole generation story. I fit pay all my family debts, send my siblings go better school, start that business wey I dey always dream about, even help people wey dey struggle like me. But at the same time, I ask myself this money, e go really give me peace?

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I know say na dirty money. Cos how one man go dey waka around with that kind cash in a whole country where people dey suffer? Even rice wey be common food don become luxury. And this man carry $500,000 dey waka like say na handkerchief. E pain me honestly. But still, I get to face myself.

I no go lie, temptation go hold me strong. I fit even cry join. But deep down, I feel say the right thing na to return am. Not because I dey holy pass anybody, but because peace of mind no get price. Wetin if I carry the money and tomorrow police knock my door? Or I begin see bad luck from nowhere? Or the man sef use juju hold the money?

And again, if I return the money, I fit sleep well, no fear, no guilt. I go dey proud of myself. Even if dem no appreciate am or give me anything in return, I go still hold my head up say I choose right.

This life na test. Sometimes God go allow you see blessing and temptation inside one package. E depend on wetin you choose. As for me, I go return the money, but I go make sure say the thing no enter gutter again o. I go find legal way to report am maybe even involve media so the matter go open. At least, make people see say good person still dey.

Life no easy, but conscience sweet when e clean.