Meet Sarki Abba from Kano State Nigeria, the genius that was made to rewrite WASC after scoring 9 distinctions. In 1984, 16 year-old Abba, a student of Science Secondary School Dawakin Tofa, scored 9 distinctions (8 A1s and 1 A2) in his West African School Certificate Examination( WASC) equivalent of today's West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) Exams. Examination authorities in Lagos didn't believe Abba made those excellent scores without cheating. The authorities provided a car that took Abba to Lagos in order to retake the exam. Abba was made to take the 9 exams in a duration of 3 days, under heavy supervision. After marking the rescheduled exams, he scored 9 A1s (the only ‘A2’ he had in English Language before the retake, now became ‘A1’). Faced with shock, the authorities apologized and instituted the National Merit Award. And, rightfully, Sarki Abba was the first recipient of the award. In 1989/90 school session, Sarki Abba graduated as OVERALL BEST Medical Student, and OVERALL BEST Graduating Student at ABU, Zaria— he was just 21. Today, he is a Professor of Urological Research, and Professor of Urology and Pathology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA. He also serves as Co-Director of Cancer Global Health at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University IL, USA. #TalesOfAfrica

Justice or jungle? “Not even the police could stop him—until the day the hunters became the hunted.” laughTales WhatsApp Channel For years, the name Derico Nwamama struck fear into the hearts of southeastern Nigerians. He wasn’t just a criminal—he was a phantom. A ghost that moved through Onitsha’s crowded markets, leaving blood and silence in his wake. He started small: petty theft, street fights, armed robbery. But by 2001, Derico had evolved into a monster. He led a gang that robbed banks, hijacked buses, and killed without blinking. Policemen, traders, travelers—it didn’t matter. If you stood in his way, you didn’t live to regret it. They said he killed over 25 people. Some said 50. He laughed in the face of the law. And the law did nothing. --- Onitsha trembled. Shop owners closed early. Commuters whispered his name like a curse. Families prayed not to be caught in his path. Even the police—armed and uniformed—hid when Derico was near. They simply weren’t equipped to stop him. Every attempt to catch him ended in bloodshed. He knew the streets too well. He had eyes everywhere. Guns. And no conscience. --- Until one day, something shifted. A new name surfaced: Bakassi Boys. A feared vigilante group with their own brand of justice. They didn’t carry badges. They carried machetes and amulets. And when they came, it wasn’t to arrest—it was to cleanse. They were called in by traders desperate for peace. Derico laughed. Until they found him. --- The hunt was swift. Brutal. Precise. Derico tried to run, but the streets that once protected him betrayed him. The Bakassi Boys caught him in full daylight. No courtroom. No lawyers. Just vengeance. --- In the heart of Onitsha Main Market, with thousands watching, they dragged him out. Bloodied. Broken. Silent. There was no trial. Just steel and fire. They butchered him in public. To send a message. The crowd cheered. Some wept. But peace returned. --- Derico’s reign ended not in justice, but in raw, bloody revenge. The people rejoiced—but something darker remained. If the system had worked… would the Bakassi Boys ever have been needed? And when the people become the law… who holds them accountable? --- Justice or jungle? In Nigeria’s shadows, sometimes the line is too blurred to see.

PRAISE AND PASSION PART 6 The camera flashes exploded like gunfire, each one searing Bukola’s vision with white-hot judgment. She could feel the crowd’s hatred like physical blows—the hissed prayers, the iPhones thrust in her face, the way Pastor Adeleke’s smirk deepened as her fingers trembled in Tobi’s grip. "Repent now!" a woman shrieked from the mob, waving a Bible like a weapon. "Confess your sins before hell claims you!" Tobi’s arm tightened around her waist. "Keep walking," he muttered through clenched teeth. But then— "BROTHER TOBI!" A voice sliced through the chaos. A young woman in a ripped choir robe fought against security, her braids wild around a face streaked with tears. "You promised!" she screamed. "You promised he’d pay for what he did to me!" Tobi went rigid. Bukola felt the shift in him—the way his breath stopped, the way his fingers dug into her hip hard enough to bruise. "Tobi? Who is—" Pastor Adeleke’s microphone shrieked with feedback as he stepped between them and the girl. "Another deceived soul! But we must focus on the sinner before us!" He gestured grandly at Bukola. "Will you repent, Gospel Girl?" The crowd roared. Bukola opened her mouth— CRACK. A sound like lightning split the air. Every head whipped toward the hotel’s giant LED screen. Where Bukola’s face should have been, there was… Audio waves. And then Pastor Adeleke’s voice, slick with sin, filled the lobby: "You’ll sleep with me, or your brother loses his scholarship. Unless you want his blood on your hands?" The girl in the choir robe—Tobi’s sister—burst into fresh sobs. The crowd’s fury turned like a tidal wave. "Liar!" Adeleke shouted, but the recording continued: "Such a pretty little mouth. Open it for your pastor, eh?" Silence. Then— Chaos. Tobi moved like a man possessed, shoving through the now-enraged crowd, dragging Bukola behind him. Mama Nkechi materialized at their side, shoving car keys into his hand. "Take her. Now." Bukola barely had time to process before she was thrown into a black SUV, Tobi peeling out as fists pounded on the windows. "Who was that girl?" Bukola demanded, her voice raw. Tobi’s knuckles whitened on the wheel. "My baby sister. Adeleke raped her three years ago. When I confronted him, he had me thrown out of three churches." A muscle jumped in his jaw. "I joined your tour to get close to him. To destroy him." The confession hit like a slap. "So I was… what? Bait?" Tobi swerved down a dark alley, killing the headlights. Then he turned to her, eyes burning. "At first." His hand cupped her cheek. "Then I fell for you. Hard." Bukola wanted to pull away. She couldn’t. The abandoned church on Lagos’ outskirts smelled of dust and old hymns. Moonlight bled through stained glass, painting Tobi’s skin in fractured colors as he backed her against the peeling altar. "You used me," she whispered. "I saved you," he corrected, hands caging her hips. "That recording was mine. I’ve waited years to ruin him." Bukola’s pulse pounded in her throat. "You lied." "So did you." His thumb traced her lower lip. "All those pretty sermons about purity. While you moaned my name in the studio." A whimper escaped her. Tobi’s mouth crashed down. This wasn’t love. This was war. His teeth scraped her neck as he lifted her onto the altar, her legs wrapping around his waist. The wood creaked beneath them, a blasphemous counterpoint to their ragged breaths. "Tell me to stop," he growled, hands tearing at her dress. She arched into him instead. When he entered her, it was with a groan that sounded like **prayer and punishment** tangled together. Each thrust was a vow— lied, I want you, I’ll burn for this. Bukola clawed at his back, her cries echoing off the vaulted ceiling like a corrupted choir. Above them, a broken stained-glass angel watched, its face shattered. She came with a sob. Tobi followed, his forehead pressed to hers, their sweat mingling like holy water and sin. After, as they lay tangled on a pew, Bukola’s phone buzzed. A notification from Mama Nkechi: "Adeleke arrested. But he has powerful friends. They’re coming for you both. RUN." Tobi sat up, muscles tense. "We need to—" Sirens wailed in the distance. Bukola’s blood froze. Tobi grabbed her hand. "Back door. Now." They barely made it to the car before headlights flooded the parking lot. As tires screeched into the night, one question burned hotter than guilt: Who betrayed them this time? TO BE CONTINUED… WILL THEY TRUST EACH OTHER—OR WILL THE PAST TEAR THEM APART? #fictionalwritter #fictionalstories #africanstoryteller #africantales #talesmoonlight #africanlovesaga #hotromancedrama #storytelling #Storytime #kenyanfolktales #ghanianfolktales #zambianfolktales #gambianfolktales #nigeriafolktales #ugandanfolktales

The Village That Raised Me Where roots ran deep and names meant legacy. The red earth knew my feet by name, The trees watched me rise without shame. Elders spoke and time stood still, Children danced on every hill. The moonlit tales, the morning calls, The pounding yam, the market stalls. It wasn't rich, it wasn’t new, But it gave me more than any city could do. It raised me with love, with pride, with song, Taught me where I truly belong. So though I wander far and free, That village still lives inside of me.

Bullies TREATED a Poor Girl Badly, then she did this_EPISODE: 6 Maybe the principer had actually listened this time. Before she went home, Fred went to the school restroom like she usually did. The hall were almost empty by then. She was washing her hand when the door cracked open behind her. She turned and her heart instantly dropped. Vanessa and her gang walked in. Minifred began to panic. With a trembling voice, she begged, "Please, Vanessa, I don't want any trouble. Please." Vanessa smirked, strolling in casually. Trouble? Who said I came here for you? Am I not allowed to use the restroom like everyone else? Vanessa hissed and walked to the sink, washing her hand. Wifred blinked in disbelief. Maybe she had changed. Suddenly, as Winnie Fred was about to turn to leave, one of the girls intentionally put her foot out. Wifred tripped hard on it, crashing her face hard into the tide floor. Pain exploded in her face and tears flowed down instantly to her eyes. Before she could recover from this, Vanessa quickly pulled her roughly to a kneeling position. Wifi tried to fight her away and get up, but the two girls grabbed her arms, forcing her to kneel down. "You thought it was over, right? You thought your pathetic old grandmother would help you," Vanessa said. Then one of the girls went into one of the toilet stales and returned with a plastic bowl filled with water. "Open your mouth," Vanessa commanded. "No, please." Wifred cried while struggling. But Vanessa and her gang were stronger. They held her still, forced her mouth open, and poured the water down her throats. But it wasn't water, it was pee. Winfred kagged, spitting out and shocking as the girls around her bust into laughter. Wifred eyes were streamed with tears and had turned red and her body was trembling with shock and disgust. "So you think reporting me to that wrinkled grandmother of yours will change anything?" Vanessa said, "Now you will think twice before messing with me again." With a final shove, she dropped her to the floor and walked away laughing. Wifred cried and cried, but it wasn't over. When Winnifred tried to leave the restroom, she realized the door was locked. Vanessa and her gang members had locked it. Wifred pulled and pulled on the handle, but nothing. They had locked her inside and had taken the key with them. She banged on the door with her fist, screaming, crying for help, but no one came. It was Friday and there will be no one at school on Saturday and on Sunday. The janitor, who sometimes came to clean on weekends, never showed up. Wifred knew that Vanessa might have told her not to come, and the woman must have respected her commands. Wifred screamed and banged on the door several times until her hands began to hurt. By Saturday morning, she was extremely hungry and thirsty and because of this, her lips cracked and her skin looked so dull. 🚨 Missed an Episode? Don't Worry! 🚨 📌 ALL Episodes Here 👉 https://www.blogchimu.com/748/ 📌Follow the link in the story to the next episode! ✨ Love the story? FOLLOW 👉 https://tinyurl.com/Random-Story for more, and help me reach 200 shares by sharing with your friends! 🚀 Find the link in the story for the next episode. #Africantales #tales #DMZ #bbfb #fypシ゚ #highlights #WeRiseByLiftingOthers To be continued… ⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ ❌ DON'T COPY ❌ Like comment and share

The Trials of Mbeku By Greatman Onwukwe: Sir GMAN Scene 1: The Feast in the Sky Mbeku, the cunning tortoise, overheard the birds discussing a grand feast to be held in the sky. Eager to partake, he approached the birds with a proposal. "I am but a humble tortoise," he began, "and I have heard of your feast in the sky." "I beg of you, allow me to join you." The birds, amused by his request, agreed, and Mbeku joined them on their journey to the heavens. Scene 2: The Deception Upon reaching the celestial realm, the birds were greeted with a bountiful spread of food. Mbeku, seizing the opportunity, addressed the assembly. "I come from a distant land, and in my tongue, 'Mbeku' means 'All of you.'" "Therefore, this feast is meant for all of you." The birds, taken aback by his audacity, protested, but Mbeku insisted, and consumed the entire feast, leaving nothing for the others. Scene 3: The Fall Angered by Mbeku's greed, the birds decided to teach him a lesson. They retrieved their feathers, leaving Mbeku grounded. In his attempt to return to earth, Mbeku fell, and his shell became cracked upon landing. Scene 4: The Return Mbeku returned to his village, but his kin, seeing his broken shell, mocked him. "Mbeku," they laughed, "you went to the sky as a king, but returned as a beggar." Scene 5: The Lesson Mbeku's tale serves as a cautionary story about the consequences of greed and deceit. It is a reminder that one's actions, especially those driven by selfish desires, can lead to downfall and ridicule. Scene 6: The Village's Reflection The elders of the village gathered the community to reflect on Mbeku's story. They emphasized the importance of humility and warned against the pitfalls of arrogance and dishonesty. Scene 7: The Rebuilding Inspired by the lessons learned, the villagers worked together to rebuild their community. They organized feasts that celebrated unity and shared resources, ensuring that no one went hungry. Scene 8: The Legacy The story of Mbeku became a cherished tale, passed down through generations. It served as a moral compass, guiding the actions of the villagers and reinforcing the values of honesty, humility, and community. Scene 9: The Song To commemorate the lesson, a song was composed, celebrating the virtues of integrity and the strength found in unity. The song became a staple at community gatherings, reinforcing the moral of Mbeku's tale. Scene 10: The Continuation As time passed, the village prospered. The lessons from Mbeku's story continued to influence the community's culture, fostering an environment where greed was shunned, and cooperation thrived. Scene 11: The Elders' Council The elders established a council to oversee the moral upbringing of the youth. They organized storytelling sessions, where tales like that of Mbeku were narrated, ensuring that the wisdom of the past guided the future. Scene 12: The Reflection On quiet evenings, the villagers would gather by the riverbank, reflecting on their journey. They would recount the trials of Mbeku, reinforcing the community's commitment to the values of honesty, humility, and unity. Scene 13: The Farewell As the episode concluded, the narrator left the villagers in a state of contemplation, pondering the timeless lessons embedded in the story of Mbeku. The tale served as a mirror, reflecting the virtues and vices within themselves, encouraging continuous growth and communal harmony. #greatmanonwukwe #sirgman #TheTrialOfMbeku #AfricanWisdom #storytelling #greediness #lessonslearnedinlife

I SAW MY GRANDMA TÚRN INTO A CÁT AT NIGHT😳 My name is Kpokuechukwu. I'm the only son of my father. Or rather, I'm the only product of an intertribal union of an Igbo man and a Yoruba woman. According to my mother, she'd been childless for 8 years and had experienced 3 m¡scarriages before I was finally born. So she called my name Oluwasindara . My parents and I used to live in the faraway city of Lagos. But one December when I was just six years old, we traveled down East to celebrate Christmas with grandma… And that was it, we didn't return to the city😭 Before we embarked on that journey, there was this particular dream I usually have, of a cr££py old woman scaring me. Sometimes she will throw me into a stream, thr£atening to drown me, other times she will be chasing me around a forest with either a long knife or a tongue of fire. Such a night, I will wake up sweating and crying. My mom would be there to comfort me. She would apply some ointment on my forehead, muttering silent prayers. It's as a result of these repeated occurrences that I started sleeping in my parents room. . This story belongs to Joy Ifunanya. One Thursday evening in October, mummy was helping me do my homework in the dining room when dad walked in and told her to start making preparations. “We shall be celebrating Christmas in the East this season”. He announced. I was overwhelmed with excitement. I'd only heard about the village, but never really visited it. During holidays, mom usually takes me down to Badagry to stay with her elder sister who had 4 grown-up children. Although I do enjoy my times with them because there, everyone pampers me, I think traveling to the village will be more fun. I have heard fascinating stories about the rural areas from my friends at school who were privileged to visit their hometown every holiday season. They won't stop talking about how they swim in their village streams all day long, how they go out to watch masquerade, how they go palm kernel hunting, snail hunting, crab hunting and a lot of other adventures. More interesting was how children would gather round the fireplace at night to listen to interesting folktales from the elderly women. I have been hoping to have such an experience one day. So when dad made that announcement that evening, I couldn't control myself. I lifted my hands in the air.. “Yeah, I'm going to see grandma!”. I Daddy smiled and patted my back. However, mummy didn't seem nearly as excited. In fact, she looked rather apprehensive. “Dave, I'm not going to the village with you”. She asked. Daddy frowned at her. “Why? We haven't been to the village for ages” He asked. “Are you asking me why? How do you even want me to travel all the way to the East in this condition?” She quarreled. At that time, I wasn't aware that she was weeks pregnant. “I know, dear. But trust me, you will be safe. Nothing will go wrong, I promise”. He said. “I am still not going. I won't be traveling like this”. She insisted. “Wuraola, I am traveling this December, I missed my mother, it's been five years. Don't you understand?”. Daddy said. “But I'm not stopping you. I just said I am not going. That doesn't mean you can't go and see your mother”. She argued. Daddy heaved a sigh, sat down on the chair close to her and held her hand. He then lowered his voice and began to talk to her. Though I didn't understand what he was saying because he was speaking Igbo language (I was only fluent in Yoruba language), I knew he was trying to persuade her, to make her see the reason she should embark on that journey. I watched them, my heart filled with silent.prayers that she should concur because if Mummy won't be traveling to the village, I won't be traveling either. I'm sure of that. It was during the weekend when Mom and I were visiting her sister in Badagry that I discovered her major reason for not wanting to travel with us. Her sister and her friends were gisting in the living room by the time we came. When Mummy announced about the intending journey to the East, her sister's reaction was intense. She seemed really upset. “What is wrong with your husband?”. She raged. And in order to carry her friends along, she began to recount the events that transpired long before I was born. Since no one asked me to escused them, I sat there in their midst, listening attentively and watching their lips move. I learnt that my grandma never liked my mom. She had wanted to be the one to choose a wife for her son, HER ONLY SON, from amongst our people. But my daddy did not only reject Mama's choice, but went ahead to bring home a woman from a different ethnic background. “Mama, this is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. Her name is Wuraola”. Daddy had said the first day he brought mum home. “Eka aso, Mami”. My mummy had greeted, prostrating before Grandma. Grandma's eyes turned red with rage. “Over my dead body would my only son marry onye ofe mmanu”. Grandma had responded. She couldn't even hide her feelings. NOTE:. OFE MMANU IS THE IGBO MAN'S NAME FOR YORUBA’S OMI OBE AND EWEDU SOUP. NO OFFENSE But despite his mum's disapproval, daddy went ahead to marry my mom. Nobody in my father's family agreed to see reason with her. This made her h@tred of mom very strongly. So strong that she was absent during their introduction and traditional marriage ceremony. A few weeks before their wedding, dad and mum traveled to the village to make peace with her. They knelt before her and apologized for getting married without her blessings. She accepted their apology, and promised to attend their wedding, but with a strict condition. “Your wife will stay back here with me for some time after the wedding”. She had told my dad. “Hmmm, it won't be possible”. Dad said. They returned to the city 2 days later and did their wedding without her. But barely two weeks later, they found themselves back in the village… Dad's business has collapsed. “Nwanyi ofe mmanu bû bádluck bia n' uloa(This Yoruba woman came with bádluck)”. Grandma would taunt dad. But dad didn't take her word to heart. Even when Mom started having a series of m!scarriages, and grandma wouldn't stop bothering him to take a new wife, he refused to give up on mum. “You're my only son, Onyekachi. The nwanyi ofe mmanu you married is bárren! Why don't you marry Akuabata, and start giving me children. I'm not getting any younger”. Grandma would always tell him. It wouldn't end there, she would go ahead to bring the akuabata home to do chores for her. The lady would be parading the compound in a skimpy skirt or gown. Grandma finds pleasure in making mum shed tears. She neither eats her food nor allows her to touch her belongings. Once she returned from the farm and noticed that mom was cooking soup with her pot, she got really angry, stormed into the kitchen, set the pot down from the fire, and threw the soup on the ground. “Ahh! Mami?”. Mummy exclaimed. “Mami micha gi onu there! Ekwensu!”. Grandma cμrsed. With that, she went inside and came out again with a hammer and nails with which she pierced the pot in several places before flinging it into the bush. Morning and night, mom would cry, but my dad would always be there to comfort her. It was after six wásted years that uncle Tunde, my mummy's elder brother who resided abroad, remembered his sister. It was him who sponsored them financially. They left the village, back to Lagos, and started afresh. With time, things began to normalize, and that was when I came into the picture. Mom's pregnancy journey wasn't easy, she was hospitalized thrice due to threatened m¡scarriages. However, with Divine intervention I was brought into this world, a year after they returned to the city. **********”******* Though I feel sorry for her, hearing all these stories about mom's mystery didn't deter me from wanting to visit the village. In fact, my excitement only grew stronger. I was still eager to experience village life and make new memories. I couldn't wait shåre my own village experience with my friends. Thankfully, at last, Mummy agreed to the journey. Then came D-Day. It was on December 20th. Very early in the morning, we set out for the East in my dad's car. Myself and my parents, with one woman and her infant son. The journey was tiring. I didn't imagine it was going to be so.I sleep and wake up occasionally and still find ourselves on the road. At one point, I began to cry. “The masquerades in the village will b!te you if they see tears in your eyes”. Mom said. I stopped crying instantly and wiped my tears. As the evening drew in, we continued driving until the woman and her son dropped off at a junction. We then turned onto an untarred road, which seemed to stretch on forever. This story belongs to Joy Ifunanya. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we drove into a wide compound and halted in front of a thatched-roofed bungalow. An old woman was sitting by the side of the wall, picking something from a calabash on the ground in front of her. “Here we are!” Daddy announced. “Village?” I asked, excitement building inside of me. “Yeah! Grandma is here”. Daddy said, pointing towards the old woman. By now, the woman had looked up from the calabash and was staring at our car. “Grandma!”. I screamed out excitedly, and without waiting, I threw open the car door and leaped out “Grandma, grandma!”. I chanted as I ran towards her. But as I drew closer enough to behold her face, my feet seemed to freeze of their own accord. A chill rippled through my body, raising goosebumps on my skin. Grandma was the same woman who had haμnted my dreams…. Typing 2……….. Please, shåre 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 #Story from Joy Ifunanya's story room.

Ferdinand is back home with his friends. With tales of his many wonderful adventures in America 😊

Follow my page Echoes of Africa 🌍-My Motherland, for timeless African Tales 🔥 Let's bring back Childhood memories🤗

(PART 2) FOR 3 YEARS THE WOMAN STOOD OUTSIDE THE GATE OF THE BILLIONAIRE BECAUSE...#Africanfolktales With one last look at the gate, she turned and walked away into the night. But everyone knew she would be back tomorrow. She always came back. The sun rose slowly the next morning. Madame Eunice, Chief Odogwu's mother, noticed the old woman sitting outside as her driver pulled out of the mansion. She frowned. Who is that woman? She asked the driver. Madame, it is one old woman that has been coming to sit here for days. The driver answered, "She does not trouble anybody. Oh, all she does is look at the gates." Madame Uni's face darkened. She has been here for years. Yes, madame. The girls are even tired of her. Madame Yuni's hands tightened around her purse. Make sure Chief Odogwu never hears about her. The driver gave a strange look but said nothing. The old woman remained outside the gate, her patience never failing. She had come this far, and she would not stop now. No matter how long it took, she would wait because she knew one thing for sure. One day, the truth would no longer hide behind the walls of that grand mansion. The mansion was alive with movement. Cars came in and out. Drivers honked. Security guards backed others. Maids hurried around in their neat uniforms. But no one ever paid attention to the frail woman sitting just outside the gate until today. Tunde the young security guard walked towards her a plastic bag in his hand. He squatted beside her and placed the bag on the ground. Take, he said. I bought small acara for you. The old woman turned to him, her lips stretching into a grateful smile. "God bless you, my son." Tunde shrugged. "You can't sit down every day like this without food." He glanced at the mansion behind him before lowering his voice. "Mama, why are you still here? Chief Odogwu will never notice you. Even if he does, you think he will care?" TBC

(PART 2) FOR 3 YEARS THE WOMAN STOOD OUTSIDE THE GATE OF THE BILLIONAIRE BECAUSE...#Africanfolktales With one last look at the gate, she turned and walked away into the night. But everyone knew she would be back tomorrow. She always came back. The sun rose slowly the next morning. Madame Eunice, Chief Odogwu's mother, noticed the old woman sitting outside as her driver pulled out of the mansion. She frowned. Who is that woman? She asked the driver. Madame, it is one old woman that has been coming to sit here for days. The driver answered, "She does not trouble anybody. Oh, all she does is look at the gates." Madame Uni's face darkened. She has been here for years. Yes, madame. The girls are even tired of her. Madame Yuni's hands tightened around her purse. Make sure Chief Odogwu never hears about her. The driver gave a strange look but said nothing. The old woman remained outside the gate, her patience never failing. She had come this far, and she would not stop now. No matter how long it took, she would wait because she knew one thing for sure. One day, the truth would no longer hide behind the walls of that grand mansion. The mansion was alive with movement. Cars came in and out. Drivers honked. Security guards backed others. Maids hurried around in their neat uniforms. But no one ever paid attention to the frail woman sitting just outside the gate until today. Tunde the young security guard walked towards her a plastic bag in his hand. He squatted beside her and placed the bag on the ground. Take, he said. I bought small acara for you. The old woman turned to him, her lips stretching into a grateful smile. "God bless you, my son." Tunde shrugged. "You can't sit down every day like this without food." He glanced at the mansion behind him before lowering his voice. "Mama, why are you still here? Chief Odogwu will never notice you. Even if he does, you think he will care?" The old woman picked up the bag of Aara and took a small bite. She chewed slowly, souring the taste before speaking. He will care,she said quietly. He does not know yet. But when he finds out, he will care. Tunde is what you have been saying for the past 3 years, mama. This man does not even know you exist. The old woman only smiled. Not far away. A Mecca, another security guard, watched him. His face was hard. His eyes narrowed and Tundi walked back to his post. Echa called him aside. You better stop talking to that old woman. She is trouble. Tunde frowned. Why would you say that? She's a harmless old woman. Leaned in closer You don't understand. Madame unice does not want Chief Odogwu to hear anything about that woman. She warned us never to allow her near the gate. If she catches you giving her food, you can lose your job. Tunde eyes widened. Why would Madame unice say should not know about the woman? Acha looked around as if making sure no one else was listening. Then he whispered, "I don't know, but I feel there is something she's hiding. Something about that woman." Tunde felt a chill run down his spine. That evening, as the sun began to set, a black SUV pulled up in front of the mansion. The gate opened and Chief Odogwu stepped out of the house dressed in a sharp navy blue suit. His phone was pressed to his ear and his voice was firm as he spoke. I want that deal closed before the end of the week. He said, "No excuses." He walked down the SUV, his mind focused on business. He didn't see the old woman. He never did. But today, something was different. As the car started to pull away, the old woman stood up slowly. She watched him with eyes full of something deep,something that had been buried for decades. TO BE CONTINUED

The Ant That Eats the Leaf Stays on the Leaf In life, just like in nature, there are silent rules we sometimes forget. When an ant chooses to feed on the very leaf that holds it up, it unknowingly ties its fate to that fragile support. The more it eats, the weaker the leaf becomes, and eventually, both fall together. This teaches us that when we harm the very things or people that support us — whether it’s trust, relationships, opportunities, or the environment — we endanger ourselves. Short-term gain blinds us to the long-term collapse. True wisdom is recognizing that what sustains us deserves our care, not our careless consumption. To survive, and to thrive, we must honor the foundations beneath us. #WisdomTales #Liferealities