Recently, an Eko hotel staff member, Ms Mary Ngozi Kekwaru, was reported to have returned a sum of $70,000 which was left behind by a guest in the hotel she worked in. While some Nigerians applauded her for returning the money, others questioned why she didn’t keep the money or a part of it, considering the economic hardship in the country. These comments have posed the question of, if Nigerians still hold dear to their hearts, moral values. In this Vox pop, Daily Trust Saturday sought the opinions of some Nigerians on if they would return money they found.
Annabel Orji, 32, Abuja, Businesswoman
Yes, I will and that is because I am well trained and brought up in strict principles, which one of them is never to pick and keep what’s not mine. The morals and principles which we grew up with shouldn’t be ignored irrespective of the circumstances in which we find ourselves. So again, Yes, I will return money if I find any.
Iquo Cobham Archibong, 29, Abuja, Lawyer
Yes, I will return it, if I find a large sum of money. Yes, the country is hard but if we all decide to throw away our values, there won’t be any good person left. Plus, what if the money was meant to be of help to someone and now that person has lost their only source of hope. I don’t think I’ll be able to live with my conscience with such thoughts running in my head.
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Umeh Justice Frank, 26, Abuja, Entrepreneur
Yes, I will because it portrays me as a patriotic Nigeria who abides by the principles of morality, honesty and good conscience. It shows that I would surely wait upon the Lord for rewards and continuous blessings and it shows that I uplifted the soul of the owner of the money, which is a blessing on its own.
Aaron Acheneje, 29, Abuja, Branding Strategist
My honest truth, if I find a large sum of money! I’ll definitely keep it and not return it. Let’s all be honest with ourselves, the economic hardship is really telling on evryone and things are not getting easier for anyone. Look at the price of fuel, transportation, food, and electricity. Life is hard for the ordinary man. Speaking for myself and how I see it, finding such huge sum of money could be my way out of this whole unfortunate hardship in which I found myself. Peace!
Olawuyi Oluwatosin, 37, Abuja, Entrepreneur
It depends on where the money was found. If the money was found in a confined space, then maybe I can look for the nearest staff e.g. a receptionist to return it to. If I were to find it on the road, only if there’s a document that can help trace the person, I will return it. If not I’m keeping it, I don’t even believe giving it to the securities is an option.
Fatimat Isyak, 27, Abuja, Student
No, I will not. I will send a quarter of it to a charitable organization and think of some other good I can do with the money.
Uchechi, 27, Abuja, Food vendor, Abuja
Times are really hard and to be honest a huge sum can do a lot, but at the end of the day, it’s not mine, so I’ll definitely find a way to make sure it gets to the owner.
Joshua Bassey, 36, Uyo, Banker
For sure. It’s a very difficult time for everybody and no matter how we may think the rich aren’t suffering, we are all facing the same conditions. Besides, I don’t know what the money was meant for and how desperate the person who lost it might be in need of it. Your acts of kindness might save that person.
Chukwuka Nwoye, 42, Developer, Lagos
I will definitely return it, if I find it. In retrospect, if I don’t know the owner, I am definitely not returning it to the Police. It’s as good as me taking the money. If I know the owner surely I will return it.
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