Activities of gangsters without gainsaying has not only become orders for the day but practicable in several quarters of the society not only in Rivers State. However, the presence of it in Rivers is alarming because the people had barely witnessed such until about 2005 and 2006, that was just after the heat of resource control in the Niger Delta region that somehow metamorphosed into seeming act of criminality which innocent souls were severely death with.
Gangsterism, witchcraft and hooliganism are activities inimical to the growth of the society. Terrorism saw the destruction of the international trade centre in the United State of America.
In the North-Eastern Nigeria, activities of the dreaded killer sect, Boko Harem has not only hinder progress of that zone but utterly destroy lives and property, forcing the citizens to bears such names that may not have been given to them “Internally Displaced Persons – IDPS.
Lives have become difficult occasioned on activities of hoodlums. Today in Nigeria another Killer sect has emerge known as Fulani herdsmen.
Rearing of cattle’s or cows as the case may be has been in existence before now but the question is, how come these men are terrorizing some parts of the nation the ways and manners they are doing. They are branded as killer sect since they have resorted to either killing or burning down houses belonging to other people.
Recently, the northern representatives are advocating for some hecters of land in all the states for the grazing and or rearing of their cattles. Is this an appeal or order from the presidency, Or Northern representatives? South – South, South-East or South West are majorly fishermen, farmers and business moguls and that brings to another question, whether the Northerners in their respective states would set aside some areas or hectres of lands for the farmers from South-South, East and west?
Would they also provides fishing –Ports for the South – South fishermen? Fishing communities are extremely large and fishermen are mostly occupants of such areas.
In the coastal areas of India, South Africa, Ghana, an analogy could be drawn to simply inform the northerners that what they are looking or agitating for could not be attained even by generations to come. Fishing settlements cannot be established in Ninety-Eight –(98%) percent of the Northern territory. Hence, it is an absord of them to even cogitate such likely heinous thought.
The wishful thought of the Northern representatives is however condemned in totality and therefore cannot be allowed to scale through any legislative processes.
Back come, during the era of militancy in the Niger Delta, it was obvious that the economy was grossly affected, lives were loss and property destroyed as many were rendered homeless while the survivors were made to walk on the streets with hands raised up. Many things actually transpired in those likely dark days, especially in Rivers.
Come to think of these, perpetrators of these heinous acts are children from families, fathers of children, mothers to many children and so on. The family therefore becomes the rallying point of every attractions and in this regard the centre for breeding either criminals, cultists or responsible children, fathers and mothers for the society. So, if the family is the breeding point of either good or bad children, and parents, then there is simply lots of work to be done in other to better the society.
The works to be done for the good of the communities, state and nation must begin with the family viz:
THE PRE-MARRIAGE STAGE: Life begins with the family unit. The family rear up children to form a community, which communities makes up the Clans, Districts, Local Governments, States and Nation.
To form a family given the present circumstances in the nation of relative insecurity, one must therefore search for a near trouble free family, a reputable and near crime free family for a choice of marriage. It is factual that a tiger can never give birth to a dog irrespective of its closeness in nature. But if such scenario plays out, then there must be a very serious problem of nature.
If a family is adjudged good by the populace there is the tendency that a female child from such good background must be of good reputation.
However, if a female child from such an adjudged good family behaves contrary to the general expectation of the people, then something is naturally wrong.
The effect of such a misnormer is that such family and girl child risks her chances of marriage either in life or for a period probably against her wishes.
While, it is a consensus that the above applies to both females and males, it’s now incumbent for the coming generation to look well before leaping into marriage. Marriage connects two families of different characters and ideologies therefore must be properly understood before embarking upon.
It is also an established fact that perfection could not be recorded in anyone’s life especially as it affects marriage, but Issues Abattoir advices that let it not be in the area of brutality or cruelty, militancy or any act of terrorism otherwise in the future of such family and community shedding of blood as well as terrorizing communities would be the salute of the day.
MARRIAGE/PROCREATION STAGE: Many would however argue the submission above basically on the fact that one particularly the female folks may come from a good background yet possesses ill characters. The truth about that may not be farfetched. Peer groups and not yielding to parental counseling are some of the reasons responsible for such situations.
Once marriages are instituted, the next level is the watch out for procreation. When marriages or Union are not peaceful the blame generally is attributes to the woman. And, if such is the correct position the female pear group is easily traces. A proceed of a troublesome union is likely to constitute and bring about rough and irresponsible children which in turn affects negatively the society.
In essence, for a peaceful society, crime free communities as well as a nation devoid of hooliganism, the family therefore must ensure peaceful, proper and imbibes good Christian virtues before, during and after procreation.
The family actually beget children but the children procreated by a single family develops to fuse into the community and society. The children however, becomes member of the community, his/her services is thereby more of the people than his parents that is to say, he is much more attached to the community than his/her immediate home, in that circumstance his activities either positive or negative greatly affects the community. If it is on the negative perspective, what is expected is bad influence on the community amounting to hooliganism, terrorism, killing and probably affecting others where caution is not applied.
So far, apart from peer pressure influence which usually occure when adequate, careful, proper guidance, counseling or mentorship is lacking on children, the family deserves the blame for poor parental upbringing.
It is therefore the responsibility of every family to imbibe proper discipline into the family circle so as to train the offspring in line with the biblical injunction “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it”. Proverbs: 22: 6 (KJV)
Applying God’s knowledge and wisdom in the family is the sure way to train godly children who become successful children.
“My son, forgets not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: so shall thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Proverb: 3:1-7 (KJV)
Judging from the experiences gathered during the so called militancy era in Rivers and Niger Delta region, the insurgency in the Northern part and activities of the Fulani herdsmen, it is therefore expedient for every family to call their children, wards to order.
Those who have not been providing counsel to their children must begin now to do the needful while those doing it must intensity efforts.
Dialogue within the family circle amongst other disciplinary measures must be implored by every family heads to ensure the nation’s future is bright other than been black.
Enough is enough, Nigeria and indeed the communities must move forward and beer good report and name. Your family is your responsibility. The time to act is now. ###
With James Mgboineme
jamesthenewswriter@gmail.com.
