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Tunji’s arrival in Lagos, like so many hopefuls before him, was marked by ambition and a hunger for quick success. He believed Lagos was the land where dreams came true overnight, and all he needed was the right opportunity. But he was wrong.
Laziness, poor choices, and a belief that shortcuts would lead him to success began to unravel his life.
Once in Lagos, Tunji found himself entangled in relationships that pulled him away from his responsibilities. Dara, the young woman he had impregnated, was a distraction he indulged in, thinking she represented a fresh start. He had no idea that chasing momentary pleasures would cost him everything he held dear. Tunji’s marriage to Amoke deteriorated further, and his children, who once looked up to him as a father, barely recognised the man he had become.
His cheating backfired in ways he never imagined. Dara, though alluring and youthful, began to show the same traits that once disdain Amoke. She, too, wanted financial security, respect, and stability—things Tunji could no longer provide because he hadn’t put in the hard work to build anything substantial. Later, her looks and youthfulness were no longer appealing to him. His laziness and pursuit of easy wealth made him a shadow of his former self. Soon enough, Dara left him, just as Amoke had grown distant. He found himself alone and without money, with no family to turn to.
Also Read Predestination Chapter 6
Tunji’s lack of discipline and hard work left him in the streets of Lagos with nothing but regrets. He would perform odd jobs, live off scraps, and wonder how it all went wrong. The dreams of wealth faded, replaced by the harsh reality that no man prospers without effort. Even the rituals, consultations, and spiritual prophecies could not substitute the need for diligence.
Back in Ijebu Igbo, Tunji’s story became a lesson. Elders would gather the teenagers and narrate his fall from grace. Tunji had become the cautionary tale, the man who chased quick money and found ruin instead. His name was spoken in the town as a warning: “Beware of the Lagos dream. The road to success is paved with hard work, not shortcuts.”
Many young men who once idolised him began to see the virtue in staying home, working their land, learning a trade, or seeking education. The men who stayed in Ijebu Igbo and prospered, like Suraju and Bayepe, became the real role models.
As Tunji grew older and wiser, he returned to Ijebu Igbo to be with his children, who were now nearly grown. Though Amoke never took him back, she allowed him to offer guidance to their children. Tunji was determined to ensure they did not follow in his footsteps.
One evening, as they sat together under the old orange tree in the compound, Tunji gathered his children. His voice, now gruff with age but filled with regret and wisdom, carried a weight that made them listen closely.
“My children,” Tunji began, “I have chased the wind, thinking it was gold. Lagos showed me that there is no shortcut to wealth. If you don’t plant, don’t expect to harvest. Look at me! When I should have been working hard, I was busy running after empty promises. And now, who am I? A man with nothing but stories.”
The children remained silent as he continued, a half-smile forming on his face, showing the humour that was never too far behind, even in serious moments.
“Let me tell you something—if you see a man who says he made it without sweating, run faster than you would from a madman with no clothes! Hard work never killed anyone; laziness does. Look at the ants—those little creatures work all year round, yet I thought I could be smarter than them. I thought I could outwit life. But life? Ah! Life will slap you with both hands if you try to cheat it.”
They laughed, but the message was clear. Tunji looked at his first son, Oluwafemi, with deep seriousness.
“Patience, my son. Patience is like pounded yam—if you take it off the fire too early, it won’t be soft; it’ll be lumps of regret. Be patient, work hard, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can harvest without sowing. Stay here, build your life step by step, and trust me—you’ll be richer than all those who ran to Lagos thinking they’d find easy money.”
With those words, Tunji leaned back, his children gathered around him, taking his wisdom to heart. His life had become a powerful reminder that success is earned, not stolen, and that patience, hard work, and integrity are the true ingredients for a fulfilling life.
