The Sarkin Hausawa and Asiwaju of Kuje Amuwo in Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, Dr Sulaiman Rabiu, has urged the youths to embrace peace and avoid drug abuse.
Rabiu, who is also the Kakaki (Speaker) Arewa Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs in the 17 Southern states, made the remarks recently while celebrating Maulud Nabbiy and Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary in Lagos.
He said without peace there could be no stability and growth, urging Nigerians to shun tribal sentiments and strive to remain a united “as we call for God’s blessing.” He noted that the Hausa or Arewa community in Lagos already has a good relationship with other tribes.
The General Secretary, Lagos State Council of Arewa Chiefs, Alhaji Ahmed Danbatta, who interpreted for Rabiu, noted that the gathering was to celebrate the life of Prophet Muhammad, how he lived and the importance of the commandment of Islam and Prophet Muhammad to entire Muslims.”
Commenting, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs and Ethical Orientation, Yobe State, Yusuf Umar, urged every community to be at alert and report to the appropriate quarters any suspicious movement.
A retired controller of customs, and Kigama of Potiskum, urged parents to make the education of their children a priority, noting that Islamic religion calls for people to be educated, wherever they are. He lamented that most parents were not mindful of their responsibilities, tasking them to be alive to their responsibilities. “They must monitor their children and be sure of where they are at any point in time and who they mingle with.”
Deputy Commander, Operations, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos Strategic Command, Shehu Lamuwa, who represented the Commander, NDLEA, Lagos Strategic Command, Abubakar Liman Wali, urged parents, religious leaders, community leaders, teachers and stakeholders to rise to the occasion to reduce or eradicate the problem of drug abuse in the community.
He pointed out that the problem of drug abuse emanates from the first unit of life, which is the family. “So, parents have to be guided on how to raise their children to say no to drugs. Parents must teach their children how to be assertive on the use of drugs. They should be aware that bad company influences the child.”
He assured that the NDLEA was working assiduously to make the society a better place, urging teachers and community leaders to also complement the efforts of the agency by reporting persons engaged in the abuse of drugs in their communities.
He said: “Drug abuse has ruined many lives. It has destroyed so many children. We must rise up to the occasion as critical stakeholders, to do our best so that the society will be better for it.”
He urged teachers and community leaders to fish out the bad eggs who would want to influence others negatively
“Teachers here should look very well in school and be able to fish out those children in class that influence other children to take drugs. We’re also calling on the community leaders to watch from among them who and who have the capacity or have the capability to influence the intake of drugs in the community.
“People that sell drugs live within our communities. Therefore, community leaders have to go the extra mile to call the NDLEA and report people that peddle drugs. While they make humongous amount of profit, our children get destroyed. Therefore, we must be very careful. Community leaders must be careful about what happens among them.
“I want to implore religious leaders that they have to speak about the ills of the society.
They should take time to talk about the issues of drug abuse, which was mentioned in several verses of the Quran.
“So this problem of drug abuse is not only a jihad for us as practitioners. It’s a jihad for you and I that are involved in the management of the communities. So religious leaders, community leaders, parents, school teachers and every stakeholder must rise to the occasion so that we can reduce or eradicate the problem of drugs from our communities.”