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THE NIGERIAN PRODIGAL SON
#WritcoStoryChallenge
THE NIGERIAN PRODIGAL SON
Akin Omogbola and Deji Omogbola were the sons of Chief Bankefa Omogbola, a rich trader. They were both grownups who could take care of themselves in the absence of their parents. One day, Deji approached his father and explained to him that he felt bored at home with all the usual routine. So, he demanded for his own portion of his father's wealth to use in touring the world outside his environment. His father refused his request. He turned to his mother to seek her help in persuading his father to give him his portion of his wealth. Meanwhile, he told his mother about his planned tour. His mother tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted that what he wanted. He even threatened suicide if his request wasn't met. To prevent this, been the apple of his parents' eyes, they granted him what he wanted. Shortly after he was given the huge sum of money, the equivalent of his portion of his father:s wealth, he traveled to a far place. There, he lived a reckless life, squandering money as if there was no tomorrow. He drove the best cars, hung out with the best and hottest chicks. He was even friend to the movers and shakers of the society where he resided. For years, he painted everywhere he went red. He graced shoulders with the wealthy and the powerful. In all these, he didn't invest in any profitable venture. He even boasted to everyone in his sphere of relationship that he couldn't go broke.
At a point however, he got broke. He approached all the people who had frolicked with him when the going was good for help, but they turned their back on him. He even tried to borrow some money from them. They told him that they had no money to borrow him. Then, he went to the street to hang around the block for a quick deal such as drug peddling. But no drug pusher wanted to offer job to a care free person. Lastly, he sought for employment at an eatery. He was given one. During this period, the little he earned, he also spent it carelessly. He would spent what he earned on frivolities, and ate the remnants from customers' plates.
One night, after work, he thought about returning home. But then, he remembered that there was nothing left at home for him. He realised it the portion of his father's will for him that he had spent. Therefore, he regretted his action and wept uncontrollably. However, he made up his mind that he would still return home irrespective of his mistakes. The following morning, he took his bag and what was left of his life, and then set for home.
It took him several months to get because he couldn't afford express transportation anymore. When he got home, he knocked at his home gate. The gateman opened up, but didn't allow him in until he consulted his family. The father who was at home at the time instructed the gateman to shut him out. He added that he should return to where he was coming from. When his elder brother returned the same day to see him by the gate, he ignored him, pretending not to recognise him. His got wind of the situation. But as a mother, she couldn't bear seeing her child homeless irrespective of whatever wrong he had committed. So, she went to her husband to persuade him to allow her son in. Her husband refused. He even threatened to throw her out to join her son on the street of she stressed the matter further. She didn't buy the threat and refused to back down on her request. So, her husband gave the condition that if her son was to be allowed in, he had to return the portion of his wealth that he had collected and aquandered. She approached her son and asked for it, but he replied that he had noting left.
As a result of the father's decision, Deji lost his place in the family and became a vagabond.
What lesson can you take from this story?
Was the father's final decision on his son's wrong justified?
What more should the mother have done to safe the situation?
Was there anything Akin should have done to help his brother?
GEORGE FREEMAN
THE NIGERIAN PRODIGAL SON
Akin Omogbola and Deji Omogbola were the sons of Chief Bankefa Omogbola, a rich trader. They were both grownups who could take care of themselves in the absence of their parents. One day, Deji approached his father and explained to him that he felt bored at home with all the usual routine. So, he demanded for his own portion of his father's wealth to use in touring the world outside his environment. His father refused his request. He turned to his mother to seek her help in persuading his father to give him his portion of his wealth. Meanwhile, he told his mother about his planned tour. His mother tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted that what he wanted. He even threatened suicide if his request wasn't met. To prevent this, been the apple of his parents' eyes, they granted him what he wanted. Shortly after he was given the huge sum of money, the equivalent of his portion of his father:s wealth, he traveled to a far place. There, he lived a reckless life, squandering money as if there was no tomorrow. He drove the best cars, hung out with the best and hottest chicks. He was even friend to the movers and shakers of the society where he resided. For years, he painted everywhere he went red. He graced shoulders with the wealthy and the powerful. In all these, he didn't invest in any profitable venture. He even boasted to everyone in his sphere of relationship that he couldn't go broke.
At a point however, he got broke. He approached all the people who had frolicked with him when the going was good for help, but they turned their back on him. He even tried to borrow some money from them. They told him that they had no money to borrow him. Then, he went to the street to hang around the block for a quick deal such as drug peddling. But no drug pusher wanted to offer job to a care free person. Lastly, he sought for employment at an eatery. He was given one. During this period, the little he earned, he also spent it carelessly. He would spent what he earned on frivolities, and ate the remnants from customers' plates.
One night, after work, he thought about returning home. But then, he remembered that there was nothing left at home for him. He realised it the portion of his father's will for him that he had spent. Therefore, he regretted his action and wept uncontrollably. However, he made up his mind that he would still return home irrespective of his mistakes. The following morning, he took his bag and what was left of his life, and then set for home.
It took him several months to get because he couldn't afford express transportation anymore. When he got home, he knocked at his home gate. The gateman opened up, but didn't allow him in until he consulted his family. The father who was at home at the time instructed the gateman to shut him out. He added that he should return to where he was coming from. When his elder brother returned the same day to see him by the gate, he ignored him, pretending not to recognise him. His got wind of the situation. But as a mother, she couldn't bear seeing her child homeless irrespective of whatever wrong he had committed. So, she went to her husband to persuade him to allow her son in. Her husband refused. He even threatened to throw her out to join her son on the street of she stressed the matter further. She didn't buy the threat and refused to back down on her request. So, her husband gave the condition that if her son was to be allowed in, he had to return the portion of his wealth that he had collected and aquandered. She approached her son and asked for it, but he replied that he had noting left.
As a result of the father's decision, Deji lost his place in the family and became a vagabond.
What lesson can you take from this story?
Was the father's final decision on his son's wrong justified?
What more should the mother have done to safe the situation?
Was there anything Akin should have done to help his brother?
GEORGE FREEMAN
