By Agsoba Ayotunde O. Okunowo (9602)
My closest encounter with drugs was sometimes in 2018. A son of a revered Monarch in the Southwest had paid an official visit to Abeokuta, Ogun State. On every of such visits to Abeokuta, he could afford to miss anything but not the popular Ofada Rice sold at Itoko area of Abeokuta, and I always have the duty of accompanying him. On this fateful day, the driver using all known sobriquets requested me to take him to where he could buy drugs. I was flabbergasted! I was quick to inform him that I knew nowhere. Here is a man who in his entire period of life has not seen cocaine or marijuana at a close range. Upon insistence, I advised him to stop an Okada man for such discretional purchase. The second Okada man that he enquired from was quick to pilot us to an area, without recourse or due diligence to our identities despite the fact that we were in a fully tinted Prado Jeep. This indicates that the use and abuse of drug is common amongst the low and the mighty. Upon entering into the designated enclave, what I saw could never be properly described in Ink! In my second encounter, however I had actually gone to meet a law enforcement officer at one of those notorious points in Abeokuta known as Mayas. With these two encounters, I need not say more. It is such a world of decadence.
My fears were later confirmed when I worked in an NGO where I had first-hand experience on rehabilitation of young boys/girls, mostly between ages 16 & 22, who had been severely damaged by drug abuse physically, mentally, psychologically and spiritually. Most of them rely on Artane and Ethyol to live a decent life. According to the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Drug/ Substance Abuse is around 40-50% amongst underaged youths. Some of the drugs commonly abused are Codeine, Tramadol, Loud, Rohypnol, Cocaine, Skunk, Cannabis, Crack, heroine etc. Some lick it as tablet or dissolve it in water while others take drugs as injections. The only known pleasure is the acute intoxicating effect with several dangerous damages to vital organs and the entire body system. Cultism on the other hand, in the good old days used to be a fraternity amongst university students but which has now been fragmented into a suburb/neighborhood confraternity initiating underaged boys/girls. You will be surprised to note that most of our barbers, Okada riders, Generator Repairers and all these domestic artisans are members of one cult groups on the other. Some of the notorious cult groups are Buccaneer, Pyrates, Black Axe, Air Lord, Black Bra, Daughters of Jezebel, etc. The extension of the other two vices give birth to the third one which is Ritualism which oftentimes is done using fresh human parts. The Get rich-quick-syndrome and delayed gratification has pushed many secondary school students into Rituals. They do this all in a bid to drive flashy cars, go clubling, keep tryst and flash expensive phones and gadgets.
What are the Causes of these Societal Ills?
1. Bad Parentage: The quest for financial liberty and avarice has made many parents to fail in their parental responsibilities towards their children. This is particularly worsened when these children are from broken homes or products of teenage pregnancy. It must also be established that some are parents spare the rod to spoil the Child. Parents are expected to raise their children in the way of God.
2. Peer Pressure: Unlike in the olden days, parents no longer take special interests in the types of friends that their Children keeps. Whereas, peer pressure accounts for almost 94% of moral decadence. Association determines direction. Show me your friend, an Englishman Says, and I will tell you whom you are.
3. Phone & social media: The illusional Glitz and Glamour that the social media presents is a force throwing many into 16 horrible pits. Apart from the fact that the Social media is only a page which shows one side of life, it has also made it easy for people of like characters to connect, interact and associate. Many people assume dangerous characters because of what they read on social media. The Predilection of underaged boys and girls to Social Media should be greatly discouraged. There are several social media groups for students under the delusions of Drugs, Ritual and cultism.
4. Societal Idolization of Money & the Bandwagon Effect: It is unfortunate that our society doesn’t appreciate or upholds any value except money. Gone are the days when Medical Doctors, Teachers, Professors, Lawyers, Bankers were enviable members of the society. Nowadays, the Yahoo Boys and Ritualists Steal the show. Everybody wants to drive the latest car in town and use the latest iPhone even despite the fact that some of these boys who brandish these gadgets can’t use two percent of the specific functions. The quest to appear in aggrandized view, as big boys or girls throw many students into the delusion of drug, rituals and cultism.
5. Music & Films: I was at my desk reading one day, when I heard my then 2-year-old son singing one of those songs glorifying Yahoo Yahoo. I quickly rose up from my desk and gave him some few spanks with the caveat that I shouldn’t hear such dirty songs from him again. That’s the society that we are! Students are susceptible to dangerous infiltrations. The years of Kings Sunny Ade, Chief Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, Orlando Owoh and the rest were indeed years of good music. Nowadays, music is an assemblage of rhythmic jargons, expletives and lewd expressions. These songs make waves on our radio stations, Barbers Shop and Pepper-soup joints often blaring at high decibels which unconsciously filters into the listening ears and sink in their minds thus creating a basis for their conscious and subconscious actions.
6. Proliferation of Club Houses, Beer Palour Joints & Drinking Bars: Sometimes ago, I wanted to do the photocopy of a document in an unfamiliar terrain in Pansheke Abeokuta which is best described as a Student Area. I trekked the entire length and breadth of the area without seeing one photocopy office. Whereas, I counted nothing less than 20 beer parlour joints and bars. This is the value of our modern society. In these bars, you find clusters of young men and women sitting languorously, and drinking to stupor. This oftentimes is the breeding place for all associated vices. It takes a disciplined owner of such outlets to control the exuberance of his customers.
7. Inappropriate Government Policies: It is unfortunate that our policy makers just copy policies hook, line and sinker from other climes without ensuring matching suitability in their own domain. One of those inimical polices upholds that teachers are no longer permitted to beat students for their offences. Due to these adverse policies, our Schools are breeding students who don’t respect teachers because the cane which is the symbol of authority and discipline has been withdrawn.
8. Pastors, Alfa & Babalawo: It is disheartening that those who should be at the forefront of morality are in themselves the sponsors of societal decadence. It is shameful to state that our clerics enjoy great patronage and are oftentimes Godfathers to students under the delusion of drug, rituals and cultism. A world also being promoted by the Nigerian Film Industry.
How can we Break the Yoke?
1. Parents Should Be Alive to Their Responsibilities: A young gambler would surely grow to become an old beggar. As much as parents are trying to make ends meet, they should also give a watchful eye over the affairs of their Children. One can endeavour to fail in anything but not as a parent.
2. Strengthening the Marriage Institution: if we do a background check on most of the children involved in the delusion of drugs, rituals and cultism., it will be unfortunate to note that a certain percentage of them don’t come from responsible homes. They are either children born out of wedlock or products of broken homes. We must endeavour to strengthen the marriage institution if we want to curb these vices.
3. Integrity of Faith Based Organizations: The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim Right Concerns (MURIC) & Trado medical Organizations should speak to their members as regards members’ involvements with underaged Children seeking Spiritual Power, Money Ritual or any Spiritual help. They should put the peace of the society over and above any pecuniary gain. Adherents of the Cross, Crescent and Cowries should tone down the prosperity gospel which is driving our society to naught.
4. Enforcement of Justice: Justice was instituted not just for punishment but to serve as deterrent to others. We must ensure that students under the delusion of drugs, rituals and cultism face the full wrought of the law whenever they are apprehended. This, Stricto Sensu, will serve as deterrent to others.
5. The Nigerian Music & Film Censor Board: This organization may be said to have failed in its responsibility because they have the positive duty of licensing any audio or visual that enter into the public space. Regrettably, most Films on Africa Magic and the TV in general oftentimes idolizes the delusion of drugs, nudity, rituals and cultism. Aristotle said we are what we repeatedly see, hear and do. There should be more stringent restrictions, measures and censures.
6. Pro-active Security Organizations/ Community Policing: There is nobody into drugs, 17 ¬ cultism or ritualism that wouldn’t give himself away at one point or the other no matter how perfect. Security operatives should carry out routine checks on Citizens as may be necessary. The best form of security is community policing; therefore, the larger society must be able to assist law enforcement officers with adequate information about students under these delusions.
7. Reversal of Inimical Policies: Government should reverse all policies that seem to be at variance with our current realities. Every situation has its own peculiar solution. This amongst several reasons is why the level of decadence is so high amongst secondary School Students. Even the bible says, spare the rod and spoil the child. Westernization at the detriment of discipline is willful impropriety.
8. Societal Vigilance & Security Consciousness: We need to be more vigilant as an individual than before. When two individuals meet or greet themselves, it is appropriate that we pay attention to their handshakes and greeting patterns. Enter Public Vehicles at only designated Garages. For those who do online Businesses, Meet your client at a public Space. Turn on your location on your mobile devices and share it with your loved ones. Always inform you friend, family or loved on about your movement. Late Night Journey should be limited as much as possible. Monitor your children & their behavior
9. Mental Health Advocacy: Government and Non-Governmental Organizations should intensify their advocacy on Mental Health amongst Secondary School Students. Most of the people taking these hard drugs don’t know the adverse effect or the repercussion of it on their health in the future. They are only doing it in order to be counted. The years of dissipation will surely catch up with them. It is high time mental health officers’ visit schools and address the students from time to time. Evaluate our value Systems:
In modern Biology, it is said that every growth is in response to a Stimuli. Collectively as Nigerians we should evaluate our social value system whether it is based on deep-rooted moral values or purchasing powers. Are we also amongst those who glorify money at the detriment of other good virtues of life? Children are only but a mirror of the larger society.
Conclusion From the foregoing, it is quite evident that breaking the yoke of Drug, Ritual and cultism is a collective effort. Each and everyone have a role to play in stemming the tide of this societal menace.
I congratulate the President-General, the Central Executive Committee and all members of our great Association on the 114th Founder’s I wish us all a hitch free and memorable event.
Happy Anniversary & Primus Et Solus
