Thread by @MrAfobaje

If society accuses you of cutting corners to attain wealth, it’s because your rise to affluence is questionable.

Nobody will accuse Dangote of fraud or Ibukun Awosika of prostitution.

I was at a conference where one of the richest women in this country was a guest speaker

She was asked how she acquired so much wealth and she gave a very Nigerian answer “ By the grace of God “ and that was it.

This doesn’t cut it. We know how Gates made his billions, we know how even Escobar made his.

Spare us the “ Grace of God “ bullshit.

I once worked for a multi billionaire in this country and he was accused of stealing government funds.

Naturally, I wanted to help clear his name and I began asking him the same questions

How did you make your money ?

His replies were shallow and lacked any convictions

He told me tales of how he struggled as a young boy from a poor background.

How he sold Orkirika ( bend down ) and cement.

I kept asking one fundamental question “ what was your big break “

Because he wasn’t the only cement seller in the country at the time.

Questions were left unanswered and even I began to wonder that the inexplicable wealth on display.

I am not saying he is guilty of the crimes he is being accused of but his failure to account for his wealth continues to fuel these suspicions.

As a people, we must learn to explain our way of life and not feel offended when confronted with such questions.

Normalize answering questions relating to your affluence on display.