In the hustling street of Mushin, Lagos state, there is this particular scoundrel I met. Of course, that is my uncle, Uncle Dayo. Uncle Dayo's troublesome attitude always makes it difficult to follow him everywhere he goes.
Uncle Dayo was always known for defrauding the market vendors and just like he always says "Man must survive by any means"
There was this fateful day in the morning when I caught him about to sell my mother's gold jewellery at our local market, which happens to be one of her precious jewellery.
"Uncle Dayo, what are you about to do?" I asked in total shock.
Being surprised also, he responded with this fake hypocritical smile. "Kid, I am just here to help your mother to recycle her unused old jewellery".
This is not working this time for me. "Uncle Dayo, you are a scoundrel, Give me that jewellery right now!"
Uncle Dayo, looking unfazed, responded. "My boy, you are too soft on your personality. Here in Mushin where you live, only the clever scoundrel survives."
I made up my mind to tell him a very vital lesson that he wouldn't forget in his lifetime.
At the end of the day, I came up with a plan. I will convince him to participate in this fake Ponzi scheme that will promise him a hefty profit.
Well, of course, and like what I was expecting, Uncle Dayo fell for the bait as he invested all his funds.
Well, of course, the day of reckoning came, and it is now dawn on Uncle Dayo that he has just been scammed by his very own nephew.
"Wow, You little boy, so you can scam right? Well, I taught you well" That was his response.
I was so surprised that for the first time, instead of expecting an expression of malice, I saw an expression of pride in his very eyes.
"Uncle Dayo, Actually I want to tell you something "
"Go on, I am with you", He responded, eagerly waiting for what I had to say.
"Uncle Dayo, I believe it is time for you to change your ways." I boldly told him as I offered him a rare opportunity to redeem himself.
I was so shocked when Uncle Dayo agreed to what I offered. Together, we went back to return the stolen jewellery to my mother, and then the trust that he had broken began to rebuild.
On this fateful day, Uncle Dayo and I were taking a stroll along the street when he confessed to me a shocking truth. "Nephew, I turned to scoundrel to find my means to survive at an early age of my life. But along the way, I lost what truly matters to me, my family and my self-integrity."
From that very day, Uncle Dayo transformed from being known to have this scoundrel personality to being a hero that many people are not expecting, always helping those in need.
From that day, he started helping those vendors in need using his master marketing and always stood for them against those things in the streets of Mushin.
His transformation spread across the street from becoming a Reformed Scoundrel as people began to seek his advice
Uncle Dayo's fame spread, and he was known to have a reputation as someone who stands for justice, this began to get the attention of local leaders, who even offered him a position in the community development initiatives at the end of the day.
At the end of the day, Uncle Dayo worked to improve the infrastructure and reduce the crime rate of Mushin.
Uncle Dayo's transformation inspires a lot of people in our street to change their behaviour.
As the year passes by, Uncle Dayo becomes a respected personality in a Mushin, and his legacy continues to spread all around, giving a testament to the power that lies in redemption.
On this fateful day, I asked Uncle Dayo what triggered him to have a change of heart.
He looked at me. "You are the reason. You show me that it is not worth being a scoundrel at the expense of losing my family and my self-respect."
I smile with this feeling of fulfilment and accomplishment.
As the story of Uncle Dayo spreads around the street of Mushin, People begin to realise that everyone actually deserves a second chance and there is nobody that cannot be redeemed from the negative behaviour and to the positive behaviour.