ARAROMI is a remote community in Ifaw (present day Ifo) area in Ogun state Nigeria, some five decades ago. Alasela was a farmer married to a wife and had two kids, a boy named Esan and a daughter called Ajike.
Alasela received elementary education up to grade three which made letter writing easy and also an additional vocation which made him popular in the community.
As a layreader in an Anglican Missionary church in the area, Alasela was a devoted Christian who always thrived to live by example at every opportunity he finds himself and held dearly to biblical principles. Honesty was his best policy and his fame resonated in the community and its environs because of that.
Alasela fame was further heightened when he displayed uncommon honesty on a fateful day. He saw a bag containing a large some of money on his way to the farm on a Monday morning. Before that day, an European supervisor of Guffanti Construction company was bringing the monthly salary of the workers when he had and accident alongside with his security aide and they both sustained serious injury that saw them being rushed to the hospital completely forgetful of the sum in the supervisor's possession.
To the amazement of all, Alasela informed the Baale of his community to accompany him to the police station so he can report the development to the law enforcement agency. The money was #25,000 when counted and that was the exact amount declared missing by the Construction Company in the accident.
Alasela was rewarded with #250 for his honesty and was publicity praised by major newspapers for his very rare examplary attitude.
Alasela's action also earned him disdainful comments from members of the community who saw his act as foolishness. According to this group of people, Alatise should not have returned the money.
It pleased Olodumare to make him rich through the money but Alasela foolishly wasted the opportunity by returning it.
They mocked him by saying that the #250 reward given to by the Construction Company was ridiculously too small and a proof of his foolishness. They labelled him Alasela Oloshi Arowomagbe (Never do well Alasela who saw huge money and refused taking it ).
This even angered Abike, Alasela's wife and the children. They too had their own share of ridiculed occasioned by Alasela's uncommon hold to honesty.
Alasela was not bothered by the discouraging comments if the people.
The money did not belong to him in the first place and if his actions were bad, he would not have been rewarded by the Construction Company and celebrated in the newspapers.
He bought a motorcycle from the money and wrote an inscription below the plate number "Otitoloju Iwofa Lenu" (Honesty is the best , The Mouth is like A Slave).
Alasela's wife also did not spare the husband numberless tongue-lashing, but the man was never disturbed. He will do what the Bible and his conscience approves of.
A year later, Guffanti Construction Company employed Alasela as a store keeper who will be in charge of materials received and utilised in the office within the community.
Five years in the employment of the company, Alasela was able to build a four room Brazilian model house (Face me I face you house). Attitude is effective, the two children of Alasela have imbibed the acts of their father. They are now known as symbol of honesty, hardwork and beatitudes in the community and surrounding areas. Alasela's son was always very humorous whenever people call him Omo Alasela Arowomagbe ( The son of Alasela who refused to take and keep huge money he saw ). He will respond to them jokingly thus "Otitoloju, Iwofa Lenu , E Gbowo Folowo" ( Honesty is the best, The Mouth is like a slave, Give Money to it's Owner...
Honesty always pays
