Oh, how I remember Daddy Fiyesi and his iron fist! In Harmony Village, Daddy Fiyesi ruled his family with an iron fist. His word was law, and any form of questioning was met with stern punishment. His children feared his gaze more than their toughest examinations, and his wife, too, trembled under his authority. To him, absolute control was the only path to discipline and excellence.
At home, rules were rigid and unyielding. School assignments had to be completed to the minute, and the smallest infraction carried severe consequences. Speaking at the dining table? Punishment. A missing homework page? Strokes of the cane. The family whispered among themselves about the time he flogged his youngest son, Demilade, mercilessly for wearing mismatched socks.
At first, his system seemed to work—his children obeyed, and discipline appeared strong. However, beneath the surface, resentment simmered. The children were not growing; they were suffocating. Creativity died. Joy vanished. Their mother, unable to speak against her husband’s rules, became a silent enforcer of his harsh policies.
Then, disaster struck. One evening, Tolu, the eldest son, collapsed in the walkway. He had been skipping meals, too afraid to sit at the dining table where every movement was scrutinised. When asked why, he simply said, ‘I don’t have an appetite.’ The truth ran deeper. Panic attacks, sleepless nights, and a paralysing fear of their father had taken their toll on him and his siblings.
The incident drew the attention of neighbours. Whispers turned into confrontations. Concerned voices confirmed what the family had kept hidden—Daddy Fiyesi’s oppressive rule had created a toxic home. With nowhere left to hide, the truth unraveled. The children, in shaky voices, spoke of their fear. Their mother, for the first time, admitted her pain.
Faced with the weight of his actions, Daddy Fiyesi was forced to reflect. He had ruled with the intention of shaping disciplined, successful children, but instead, he had crushed their spirits.
Determined to make amends, he changed his ways. Strict rules gave way to open conversations. Harsh punishments were replaced with guidance. Slowly, healing began. Laughter returned to the home, and his children, once fearful, found their voices again.
The story of Daddy Fiyesi became a lesson for all—supervision must guide, not oppress.
