By Michael Ilaya
The Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officer (COMO), head of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Isoko South Local Government Area, Sir Ben Avre has said that a united, secure, and ethical society is the foundation of national development.
Sir Avre made this declaration recently during the series of sensitisation Campaign tours on creation of Security Awareness, Human Rights, Get-Rich-Quick Syndrome, World HIV/AIDS Day and Tax reform bill to educational institutions, religious and traditional institutions, business owners and artisans across Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria.
According to the COMO head, Sir Avre, the ongoing Sensitisation campaign which has the focus theme: “Nationwide Sensitisation Campaign on Security Consciousness and Get Rich-Quick syndrome,” was flagged off by the Isoko South Local Government Area team, at the James Ekpre Otobo Hall in the Local Government Council Secretariat, Oleh, noting that the “campaign is geared towards addressing five critical issues affecting the country’s well being, unity and development”
He added that “the campaign has also reached Owodokpokpo Community in Igbide, the Palace of the Ovie of Aviara where the team engaged the Ovie, Chiefs and Clan heads; the COMO and Staff also had a Road Show/Campaign at the Irri general market”
The COMO, in one of the campaign tours to All Saints Anglican Church and the Mosque, the gathering of Muslim faithfuls, Sunday, enlightened attendees on the dangers of the aforementioned critical issues affecting the society, particularly the get-rich-quick syndrome and the bane of prevailing insecurity situation in the country.
Sir Avre, therefore cautioned youths to be mindful of the risks associated with an unchecked pursuit of instant wealth and enjoined parents to give their children adequate orientation to divert their minds from quick wealth syndrome, called on youths to channel their energy and ambitions toward legitimate opportunities for wealth creation, emphasising the gains of prioritising integrity, hard work and moral values.
Speaking on the insecurity challenges, the COMO called on the members of the public to be vigilant, maintaining that being on alert and cautious about suspicious activities would help tackle the menace of crime and criminality in the society.
The lsoko South Local Government Area COMO attributed the increase in crime, lawlessness and heinous acts such as kidnapping and killings for money rituals to a societal domineering negative influence of instant wealth.
“The craze for wealth can lead individuals to place financial gain over moral principles, contributing to the breakdown of law and order.
“In a society where material wealth and desire to belong to the wealthy class is the order of the day, there is always an alarming rate of crime and social vices.
“Many of our youths are no longer interested in doing the right thing, some abandoned school to embark on kidnapping, killings and cybercrime also known as yahoo yahoo, favouring shortcuts that often lead to sad ends”, Avre added.
He also assured attendees that the government is committed to poverty alleviation by reducing excessive tax burdens with the various hardship ameliorating policies, stating that the campaign is a call to action for all Nigerians to unite and take responsibility for the nation’s health, security and ethical values
