It’s sad youths have lost interest in skill acquisition training —Agu, community leader, senior citizen

Countries with high levels of discipline in governance, administration, management of resources and public leadership, are the envy of other nations today! Go and ask them! Discipline took the likes of Switzerland, Singapore, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Germany, United States, etc, to the enviable heights where they are today, while indiscipline brought us too low as a country, such that we are now being described as the poverty capital of the world and country of particular concern.

By Henry Uche

In the intervening years since he retired from the Civil Service, Chief Chukwuemeka Festus Agu has devoted his time to community development activities in Imo State. He has served as Secretary, Pan-Ndi Igbo Foundation, Ojo Local Government Area, former secretary and later chairman Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos. He has also been the chairman, Umuoye Enyiogugu Development Union; former President General of Egbelu Umuhu Autonomous Community, and Treasurer, Enyiogugu Development Union. In this interview, he speaks on moral decadence, insecurity in the country, youths restiveness and discipline among other topical issues.

 Looking at society today, what do you think is the cause of moral decadence and what needs to be done, to curb or reverse the situation?

It’s unfortunate, to be frank with you. The society has degenerated abysmally.  Moral decay can be traced back to the upbringing of every person. Nowadays, the majority of children don’t listen to their parents, and this is against Biblical inductions. Also, most parents have abandoned their roles as commanded by God in the Holy Book “to train up a child in the right way.” Children forget that parental advice and counsel are blessings to them. Sadly, some of us (parents) are not doing our part. Yes, something can be done. It can be reversed by giving the children the right ladder to climb with. You know the society is made up of families. So if you give your children the wrong ladder to climb, they will crash.

Do you share the view that today’s youths have practically lost interest in vocational skills acquisition? Who should be held responsible – families or the government?

Of course, the youths (with a very little exemption) are not interested in any skill acquisition programmes because it takes time and discipline to learn. Young children are interested in having a smartphone to enable them to explore the world and make money. They believe that with such gadgets, they are made for life. But they are living in falsehood. For the few ones who are studying and learning, they are a blessing to themselves, the community and the country at large. Today, to get a carpenter or a bricklayer or other craftsman in the village is very difficult.

In the past, primary and secondary school students produced handcrafts. Today it is no longer so. How do you feel about this?

I feel bad, very bad. During our time, we did handiwork. We had handcrafted works like brooms, baskets, and local ropes used to tie firewood. We used them as part of our assignments in primary school. We did a whole lot of handiwork. The local ropes were produced from the fibre obtained from the bark of some shrubs or saplings of particular trees and used to bind or tie firewood, cassava cuttings and luggage. We made mats used for sleeping, local chairs and beds from palm trees and other trees. All these trees are still there in the bushes though scarce due to housing development. These days, children use money to pay for assignments instead of a product of handiworks. However, I blame the teachers. I feel bad about it. The days of competing with what you are able to produce with your hands are over.

Disciplining children in schools is fast vanishing, as most schools no longer flog students unlike in your days.

Yes, disciplining children is fast vanishing. It’s the fault of the parents. Some parents warn the teachers not to touch their children for any ill behaviour. Some even arrest school teachers because their children were disciplined. When has bad behaviour of a child become a good thing? Are you doing the child a good thing? Are you doing the child a favor? Why are some parents condoning dubious behaviour? The Holy Book says “spare the rod and spoil the child”. This is what we are seeing today, honestly, and that is why society keeps deteriorating. The parents are too soft on their children. It’s quite unfortunate. That is not love and neither is discipline a sign of hatred or hardness. We should do the right thing. Discipline is the first order in Heaven, God disciplined people who misbehaved. We must stop this indulgence! If our parents didn’t discipline us, none of us would be what we are today. Countries with high levels of discipline in governance, administration, management of resources, financial prudence and public leadership, are the envy of other nations today! Go and ask them! Discipline took the likes of Switzerland, Singapore, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Germany, United States, etc, to the enviable heights where they are today, while indiscipline brought us as a country too low, that we are now being described as the poverty capital of the world, country of particular concern, shithole, sleeping giant of Africa and other derogatory definitions given to us. This is what Mazi Peter Obi has been talking about for years. Rascality is very dangerous.

 Is the concept of ‘soft parenting’ really working?

No! Even God knows that human beings are stubborn. There are many instances in the Holy Book where parents spared the rod and their children hit the rock! What do you mean by soft parenting? Where did you learn it from? If you choose soft parenting, go ahead, but wait for the outcomes. By the way, parents and families will first enjoy or suffer anything that comes from their children before the society and the country at large get a taste of it.

It has been argued that high bride price is preventing females of marriage age from getting suitors. What is your take on this assertion?

The high cost of bride price in some places has made young men and women of marriage age to put off marriage. The lists they are given are scary. Parents and community heads should make their list economically-friendly. We all are in this country and we all know that the economy has nosedived. We should show understanding and adjust our ways. It’s not a do-or-die affair. There are many things involved in marriage, we shouldn’t act as if we have nothing to gain from our potential and prospective in-laws. In our local parlance, we say, no man gives birth to a daughter to marry his daughter. Someone will marry your daughter, and the man coming to marry your daughter has automatically become a member of your family. So it should be something worth celebrating, not milking a man dry. My two daughters are married. I don’t say what I don’t do. Another wrong attitude among our children is that most ladies would not accept a poor or struggling man’s proposal. That is too bad. Frankly, I blame the parents.

It has been asserted that Igbo language is going into extinction along with some cultural practices, values and traditions. Do you agree with this? If so, what needs to be done?

Honestly, my language (Igbo) is gradually going into extinction. Everybody is speaking English. That should not be! Why should English become our main means of communication, especially when we gather as brethren? Igbo language is the core of our identity, our culture and our way of life. I like the Yoruba people and the Hausa, they do not joke with their identity. They communicate in their language. I lived in Lagos for some years. But my people prefer speaking English every time, even amongst brethren. It’s not good. And this is why most of our children, especially those in the cities cannot speak Igbo language. Some don’t even know their father’s house or village because they have lived in the cities for many years, so they can’t trace their ancestral homes. Go and verify what I’m telling you. I’m an elder, we handle some critical issues, I know what I’m saying. Such parents are just shooting themselves in the foot.

What is your advice to Nigerians as the 2027 General Elections draw near?

Over the past 70 years of my life, I have not seen this kind of government. It’s very unfortunate. We don’t know our fate in 2027. Opposition parties are not allowed to breathe. The opposition parties are stumbling from litigation to litigation. You have trouble everywhere and all manner of evils are happening. No responsible and humane person in Nigeria is happy. People are passing through unprecedented hardship. It’s our prayers that the election will come and go peacefully, but Nigerians must be proud thereafter that their votes really count. History will not forget what we all do. Posterity will reward everyone. We must remember that the young shall grow, because they are watching us.