Amid the incessant cult clashes claiming lives and property in Ogun state, youths have been urged to shun social vices and pursue peace.
Adebayo Oniyide, global vice president of Aviary Association Worldwide, noted that once Nigerians internalize the virtue of patience, cultivating peace will be simple.
He stated this on Thursday during a press conference for World International Peace Day 2023, with the subject “Action For Peace: Our Ambition For Global Goals,” held in Iwe Iroyin Abeokuta.
“ You see, we have to be very patient with ourself. If you have a little patience for the government, at the same time, we would be able to maintain peace with ourselves, with your neighbors, with your family, then there will no crisis.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, Abiodun Abiodun, state president Gateway Avary, mentioned that the state has recently been in the news for negative reasons, explaining that youths have forgotten the principles that guide the state as it now lives on its past glory.
“ It’s a sad period to add that Ogun state is objective in the news for the bad things in the recent time. It’s heart wrenching, but what I can say is that most of our youths and to some extent parents are actually living on the past glory of the state, we are basking on the inferior of the past.
“So with that we have forgotten the principles that has been helping us so move forward to live according to our name, to live very responsibly. So I would say one of the major issue which is fundamental is that we also have influence of people who are not originally from Ogun state even beyond this state. So they think it is okay to do whatever they like and return elsewhere because this is not their state.
He stressed the government’s role in promoting peace and urged them to work on engaging the youth in order to keep them engaged.
“I would only imploy the government to work toward how the youths can be engaged. Most times it may not necessarily be employment. Employment is part of it. But if you see recreational places are establishing recreational facilities from there youth can pick interest in that and build on it, like sport for instance they can build on it and this become a kind of employment to them. So if they are busy, I think the world and families communities will be relatively peaceful.
Meanwhile, he praised the state’s security agencies stating that, while they were making an honest and fair effort, their efforts were insufficient.
