MONOPOLY MONEY – (The Deceitfulness Of Wealth)

The era of PONZI was a blessing to many, but not as much as it was a curse to a whole lot more. Boys touched money and became millionaires in a space of weeks, and they didn’t even have to leave their rooms. Gucci bags, Italian shoes, gold watches, and brand new cars all of a sudden! What in the world do these guys do for a living? they usually asked.

The EFCC investigations turned out frustrating. Of course, they were bound to be. This was no SCAM, neither was it some sort of magic. It was just a matter of GIVING ONE AND TAKING TWO. A lot of people called it GAMBLING. But these guys called it a POVERTY ALLEVIATING SCHEME. I think it had to do with the differences in OPINION.

“A” and “B” students on WHITE COLLAR JOBS scorned their certificates. Two years on the job and not even a piece of land to boast of. The best their earnings could do was PAY BILLS. But these guys, from being adorned with rags, rose from street corners, seashores, and bridges to becoming lenders; a questionable sudden development.

The more their source of income was being questioned and investigated, the richer they got; until SCAMMERS invaded the scene and curtailed CASH FLOW just like they do in basically all works of life; the government, private sectors, and even churches. – WELCOME TO NIGERIA!!!


These guys had gotten used to the GOOD LIFE and would do just about anything to make sure they don’t return to street corners, seashores, and bridges. However, without constant cash flow, the digits were bound to decline until it was no more. There was only one way out; INVESTMENT.

Talks with a couple of entrepreneurs revealed what it took to set up an enterprise and how long it required before profits start flowing in. It was nothing like the 100%/200%/300% RETURN ON INVESTMENT within 24 hours these guys had gotten so used to. Investment became a NO-NO; or perhaps, a SECONDARY means of revenue generation.

They needed a PRIMARY means, and an idea dropped in their minds. It wasn’t something new. It could yield 100%/200%/300% return on investment within 24 hours, or a couple of minutes, or even a few seconds. It was a more rewarding venture, but not as much as it was riskier; the riskiest of them all, GAMBLING!!!

Luck made them this rich, so they hoped for more luck to grow richer in their new found venture. It took only N5,000 to be enlisted as a member of a top gambling house in the city. On their first day, they watched BABA IJEBU lose N10m after casting a dice on the board and having a lesser number than his challenger who walked away with a whopping N20m smiling, as he puffed out smoke from his Cigar. Choi!!!

“Mek we go try our luck,” one of the guys said to the others. N100k went in for the first trial, they lost. Losing became a routine until it dawned on them that investment would have been a better option. But now, there was no more cash to invest. Still, these guys wouldn’t settle for anything less than the GOOD LIFE. That was when the devil showed up with the next best idea; the last resort; “YAHOOZEH,” or “WIRE-WIRE,” or what you may know as INTERNET FRAUD!!!

It turned out YAHOO BUSINESS was not just about PLAYING THE CON like many suppose it to be. Triggers had to be pulled. Blood had to be shed. Human sacrifices had to be made. Of course, BABA’S IDOLS HAD TO BE FED!!!

It didn’t hurt to pull the TRIGGER
It only hurt to take the BULLET

So, for the shots that were fired with the FINGER
The victims surely had skeletons in their CLOSET

Blood stains got boys’ bank accounts BIGGER
And when conscience hunted, liquor helped FORGET

Pure saints became deadly SINNERS
Until the day they kicked the BUCKET

Thankfully, one was left to TELL THE STORY. Not all that glitters is gold. Narrow is the way that leads to life. Broad is the way that leads to death. BEWARE OF THE DECEITFULNESS OF WEALTH. You may not leave to tell the story.