The Treasure We Don’t Value

We often underestimate the severity of the curses and afflictions we bring upon ourselves when we mistreat others.

In the small town called Owu, there lives a rich, educated, and resourceful farmer named ‘Wura’ which means Gold.

Wura is a very young vibrant hardworking man in his 30s.

His name is an exact representation of his nature and character.

He was like a treasure in the small town of Owu, never to be lost.

Wura owns a very large banana plantation farm in the town of Owu, where he sells bananas and banana peels not only to the people of Owu,

but also to a vast number of people living abroad, who either recycle the banana peels, consume the bananas, or resell them.

Aside from profit-making, Wura’s business also serves as a vital source of upliftment for the people of Owu town.

Notably, his banana plantation farm is the largest employer in Owu, providing livelihoods for a significant portion of the community.

By paying wages to his numerous workers, Wura bears the responsibility of feeding many families in Owu,

making a tangible impact on the town’s well-being.

Wura’s commitment to the town’s development was also evident in his generous donations,

which have facilitated the construction of roads, the building and renovation of schools, and the drilling of boreholes, among other projects.

It’s little wonder that he’s deeply cherished by his community.

Indeed, his parents seemed to have foresight when they named him Wura, a name that has proven to be a fitting reflection of his invaluable contributions to society.

The Treasure We Don’t Value

The people of Owu often wondered about the source of Wura’s wealth, given his humble background.

His sudden rise to affluence was met with scepticism, partly due to his unmarried status at an age when most men in Owu had already settled down.

This sparked whispers and suspicion among the townspeople.

Interestingly, despite the overt attentions of many beautiful young women from Owu, Wura remained oblivious to their advances.

“Could it be that he used his manhood for ‘money rituals?'” people would whisper among themselves, unable to reconcile the source of Wura’s wealth and his unmarried status.

Despite their reservations, the people of Owu continued to accept his generosity,

praising him to his face while secretly attributing his wealth to sinister means.

Behind his back, they would speak ill of him with their suspicions and envy fueling the rumours.

The mysterious circumstances surrounding Wura’s parents’ death further fueled the suspicion.

His father had founded the banana plantation, which Wura had expanded and transformed into a thriving enterprise.

However, when his father first started the plantation, it struggled to gain traction, growing only a fraction of what Wura had achieved.

Tragedy struck when Wura’s father died from a severe snake bite,

and his mother, heartbroken and unable to bear the loss of her beloved husband, followed him to the afterlife just a few months later.

Wura, an only child, was left alone to inherit his parents’ legacy.

Following a few months of mourning, a mysterious change occurred: Wura’s father’s banana plantation began to flourish at an unprecedented rate.

The Treasure We Don’t Value

This sudden growth sparked widespread curiosity and suspicion,

with people whispering among themselves, “Why did the farm only start to thrive after Wura’s parents passed away?”

The events surrounding Wura’s story were shrouded in coincidence, rapid growth, and suspicion, fueling endless discussions among the townspeople.

While being questioned about his sudden wealth, a curious commuter approached Wura and asked,

“We all saw how your parents struggled to make this farm profitable before they passed away. How did you manage to turn it into this thriving enterprise within such a short time?”

Wura’s response was always straightforward:

“I owe my success to God, the farming knowledge my father taught me, and my education.”

When Wura was younger, his father involved him in the farming business after school.

This hands-on experience taught Wura the ins and outs of farming.

Additionally, before his parents passed away, Wura had earned a university degree in Business Administration.

This combination of practical farming skills and formal business education equipped him with the knowledge and strategy needed to manage and grow the business to new heights.

Unlike his father, who lacked formal education on modern business practices,

Wura was well-prepared to navigate the challenges of the contemporary business world.

Despite Wura’s efforts to convince his community that his wealth wasn’t a result of “money rituals,” they struggled to believe him.

Their limited education and deep-rooted superstitions, stemming from traditional beliefs, made it challenging for them to accept his explanation.

“Ehnnn, despite your education, why did you choose to return to our town and continue your father’s farm?” another commuter asked.

 “Why not use your ‘foreign’ education to secure a job in the city, working for a big bank or industry?”

Wura was taken aback by the question.

“I’m a Business graduate, and I see tremendous potential in expanding my father’s business,” he replied. “Why abandon it?

The land is fertile, and with proper management, it can yield abundant fruits.

Would you expect me to leave such a valuable treasure behind?”

Wura paused, a hint of emotion in his voice. “Besides, this is my home. Am I not welcome here?”

The commuters were left speechless by Wura’s explanation and question, for they knew the immense value he brought to their community.

Though their doubts remained, Wura’s kindness and generosity continued unabated.

He persisted in giving and empowering them, tuning out their malicious whispers.

The Treasure We Don’t Value

Meanwhile, the commuters, fueled by jealousy and insincerity, accepted his gifts and praised him publicly, hiding their true sentiments.

One fateful morning, three mischievous monkeys visited Wura at his banana plantation farm.

“Wura, please give us some bananas,” they pleaded.

Despite their frequent visits, Wura had consistently provided for them.

However, their begging persisted, even after numerous warnings from Wura.

On several occasions, they had been caught stealing bananas from his plantation, yet Wura chose to forgive them, continuing his generosity without hesitation.

“Weren’t you monkeys warned never to return to my farm?” Wura scolded. “How long will I continue to give you bananas?

Do you intend to finish all my bananas?”

Monkey 1 replied, “We know you’re generous, Wura, just give us some.”

Wura retorted, “So because I’m generous, you think you can take advantage of me? I won’t be taken for granted!”

“No, Wura, that’s not it,” Monkey 2 said, with his colleagues nodding in agreement.

“Okay, okay, we promise we won’t come back again after this last time.”

Wura’s expression remained sceptical.

“That’s what you always say.

You promise to stay away, but then you return, using your sad faces to manipulate me. I’ve had enough of your empty promises!

Leave my farm immediately and never return!” he commanded firmly.

The monkeys’ faces fell, and they pleaded, “Please, Wura, don’t chase us away. Have mercy on us!”

“That reminds me,” Wura said, “I offered to teach you monkeys how to farm, but you declined.

I know that even if I gave you the opportunity to learn from me and work on my farm, you’d likely devour all my bananas in a single day, leaving me with nothing.”

Wura’s tone turned stern. “Since you’ve chosen to be idle and only consume, never return to my farm again. Leave now, or I’ll unleash the dogs on you.”

The mere mention of dogs sent a chill down their spines.

They knew Wura had brought in the fierce canines specifically to protect his banana plantation from them.

Fearing the dogs’ wrath, the monkeys hastily retreated from the farm.

From that day on, Wura became an enemy in the eyes of the monkeys.

They nursed a strong grudge against him, fueled by the scolding and eviction from his farm.

This single incident eclipsed the countless acts of kindness and generosity Wura had shown them.

The monkeys’ perception of Wura was now skewed, as one strict action overshadowed his numerous benevolent gestures.

The Treasure We Don’t Value

One day, the monkeys in their squad began to conspire against Wura.

“Does he think he’s the only one who matters?” Monkey 1 said, seething with anger.

“Don’t worry about him. We’ll show him our true strength. He’ll learn that his wealth can’t intimidate us.”

Suddenly, Wura had become an oppressor in their eyes, despite his countless good deeds.

“I have a plan!” Monkey 3 stated, snapping his fingers.

“Really?! What’s the plan?” Monkey 1 and 2 asked in unison, their curiosity piqued.

“Let’s burn down that thing that has been giving him wings and render him completely useless for himself,” Monkey 3 said.

“How?” Monkey 1 and 2 asked, confused. Monkey 3 leaned in, whispering the rest of his evil plan.

As he finished, the three monkeys burst into maniacal laughter, their cackles echoing through the air – the ‘devil’s laugh’.

That same night, under the cover of darkness, the monkeys sneaked into Wura’s farm with vengeance in their hearts.

They had assembled a troop of fellow monkeys who shared their malicious views of Wura.

The group divided themselves among the four corners of the farm, positioning themselves for a coordinated attack.

The security dogs, seemingly oblivious to the impending threat had probably lay asleep.

Even if they had been awake, the sheer number of monkeys would have overwhelmed them.

Meanwhile, a subset of the monkeys had also snuck towards Wura’s house, intent on destroying him in his own home. Thus, their evil plot unfolded on two fronts.

Fueled by anger over Wura’s refusal to give them bananas for just one day, after countless days of receiving free bananas from him, the monkeys set Wura’s vast farm ablaze.

They razed everything in sight – the farm equipment, the storage building filled with fresh bananas, and the lush banana plantation itself.

Driven by a desire for revenge, the monkeys callously watched as their beloved bananas went up in flames.

They had deliberately chosen to burn the farm rather than steal the bananas, knowing that theft would have led to them being caught easily.

Meanwhile, the monkeys who had snuck to Wura’s house unleashed their fury upon him,

brutally breaking both his legs to render him utterly helpless, just as they had planned.

With their evil mission accomplished, the monkeys fled the scene.

The town of Owu was plunged into darkness and despair following the tragic incident.

The once-thriving community was now desolate as if the clock had been turned back to zero.

and The brutal attack on Wura, their benefactor, had devastating consequences.

Hundreds of Wura’s employees were suddenly thrown back into poverty, and their livelihoods shattered.

Moreover, the significant revenue generated by Wura’s farm, which had been a mainstay of the local economy, ceased to exist.

The burnt farm lay in ruins, unable to operate, leaving the town to face a period of severe hardship.

All of Wura’s work tools and properties had been destroyed by the monkeys.

To make matters worse, his legs were broken, so he couldn’t save himself from the mess.

This was a big loss, not just to Wura, but to the entire people of Owu town

because lives were dependent and counting on Wura and his various good projects and establishments for the people of Owu.

In a surprising turn of events, the monkeys also suffered the consequences of their actions.

With Wura’s farm destroyed, bananas became scarce, and the monkeys were left famished.

They were forced to settle for unfamiliar food that lacked the appeal of their favourite fruit.

Ironically, in their quest to render Wura helpless, the monkeys ultimately rendered themselves helpless as well.

They felt pangs of remorse, but their shame and pride prevented them from owning up to the destruction they had unleashed in a fit of rage.

Now, they had lost not only a valuable source of food but also their “treasure,” Wura, for sustenance.

The Treasure We Don’t Value

A Lesson for Our Times

Matthew 7:2 KJV

[2] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.7.2.KJV

This story serves as a reflection of our society today,

highlighting the alarming rate at which good things and people are destroyed by others.

It prompts us to ask ourselves:

What is it that we truly desire?

Do we no longer value the existence of good people and things in our communities?

Why do we resort to harming others, whether through kidnapping, ambush, or brutal assault, to serve our selfish interests?

Why do we derive pleasure from witnessing the downfall of good people and things, again for our own selfish reasons?

We often underestimate the severity of the curses and afflictions we bring upon ourselves when we mistreat others.

It’s only when we lose what we have that we come to appreciate its true value.

To achieve progress, we must protect and preserve the good things and people in our society.

They are all around us, but sometimes our own biases and envy prevent us from recognizing and appreciating their worth.

Also Read: Money is Just a Tool – Diademng

The Treasure We Don’t Value