A security guard at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Mr Achi Daniels, who recently found a bag containing huge amount of dollars, expensive wristwatches and mobile phones, has revealed what friends and associates told him after he chose to return the bag.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier in the week hailed Daniels, an employee of Halogen Securities, and his superior, Francis Emepueaku, for their forthrightness in returning the bag intact.
“Honesty remains the best policy. We must exhibit such behaviour in whatever position we find ourselves, whether high or low,” Buhari had said.
“The security men could have chosen to behave differently, following the self-serving principle of ‘if you can’t beat them, join them.’ But they have chosen to be examples of good, honest Nigerians. I commend their conduct to the rest of the country.”
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Reports say that Lagos-based medical doctor, Banji Oyegbami, had met a family returning from America at the airport on August 18, 2018 and in the process of loading their luggage into the car of their host, the handbag of the returnee’s wife fell, unknown to anyone.
After finding the bag, Daniels reportedly immediately took it to his superior without bothering to check the worth of valuables in the bag.
The bag was subsequently returned to its owner intact.
But in an interview with The Punch published on Saturday, Daniels disclosed that some friends and associates insulted him for toeing the path of honour.
Speaking on the reaction of family and colleagues to his action, Daniels said, “Most of them appreciated me and said that God would reward me, but some of them felt a bit disappointed; they would not understand how a security guard like me would find something that could change my living condition for the better and yet, I chose to turn it over.
“They asked me if I wanted to remain poor but I answered them that if that is the will of God, there is no regret.
“It is not in my character to take what does not belong to me.
“People really gave all sorts of funny ideas but I decided to do what was right.
“The way I was brought up, material things are secondary after a good name.
“My family members are happy with me because I have brought prestige and honour to our family name.”
Asked what he would ask for should Buhari decide to assist him for his honest gesture, Daniels disclosed that he would ask for scholarship for his four children.
“If President Buhari asked me to mention what he could do for me to appreciate what I did, I would tell him to give my children scholarship first and any other assistance. So if he can do that for me, I will be very happy,” he said.