By Babajide Fadoju
Failing in our responsibilities as parents, elders, seniors in collectively moulding our children into the great leaders of tomorrow they are meant to be will ultimately lead to the ill-fate suffered by the Israelites, whose first generation to leave Egypt failed to see the promised land.
Allowing sentiments to affect our sound judgments in sensitive matters as the one at hand is definitely a sure path to a very shaky future.
The Yoruba culture, which I’m proud to defend at any given time, teaches us that when a child falls short of some accepted moral values and is being rebuked by the father, s/he has to show some degree of sincere remorsefulness and repentance. And then go ahead to apologize, even if the father is at fault.
The peace makers have a way of telling the father behind closed doors where he went wrong. With great wisdom, the father will in no too far distance appease the child.
That’s our culture, as passed down from generations. And it must remain passed down, and upheld in the strictest sense, no matter what the situation is – and no matter how “civilized” any generation is.
This value must not be lost on the platter of cheap political gains. Better politics, better governance, which ultimately leads to better living for all should be our collective goal.
The intervention of the well-meaning elders must be applauded. However, the erring schools must be made to comply with the directives of the government to apologize – again, for our collective good.
Violent protests is never a way forward, and shouldn’t have a breeding ground in any progressive society.
There are civil ways to go about resolving conflicts, and no otherwise bad approach should be tolerated. Encouraging moral decadence always has its toll on the future of the nation, especially on the poor. Whereas, the orchestrators walk away clean for another bad show.
The current economic environment is harsh but patience and peaceful approach will always bring early succour. Remember two wrongs don’t make a right.
To my bible scholars and Christian faithfuls, I’d leave you with this verse taken from Proverbs 22 verse 6 ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it’
—————————-
Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija
Babajide Fadoju
Leave a reply