Discipline, morality as essence of life

Indiscipline and immorality take different forms in our society. They permeate all the layers of society. Immorality cuts across all sectors of our lives. Not even our churches and mosques are spared. At the national level, indiscipline and immorality take the form of corruption.

Many of our leaders today aspire to positions to corruptly enrich  themselves. Hence, you hear of kick-backs at government circles before contracts are awarded.

Nominees for political offices have to “clear” their ways in the legislative houses to have their nomination ratified. Applicants for jobs have to cough out large sum to secure jobs. Sometimes, female applicants do so with their bodies.

Students in our higher institutions merely need to “know their way” with their lecturers to pass examinations even if they are not available for lectures and examinations. Civil servants often need to “oil their wheel of promotion.”

Similarly, our youths are not helping matters. Promiscuity is as rampant among the youths as it is among married people. The report of the Federal Ministry of Health for 2008 on abortion and unwanted pregnancies shows that the total number of recorded abortions between 2001 and 2007 stood at about 1,000,000. Nigeria has also been listed as the ninth country in the world with the highest record of HIV / AIDS.

These revelations are heartbreaking. Today, you see ladies dress half-naked in the name of fashion. Boys plait or weave their hair and burden their ears with earrings like ladies. This trend is indeed dangerous for our society.

Parents have abandoned their parental responsibilities to their children. It is a common saying that charity begins at home. Many of the children who grow up to become youths, adults and even leaders today were not given the proper upbringing that would have made them exhibit the norms and positive values of the society.

Furthermore, our society places premium on wrong values. Our society sees every opportunity to serve in government as a means of amassing wealth and anyone who fails to utilise such opportunity when it comes is stigmatised.

No one cares about the source of wealth of many of our rich men as long as they can throw their wealth around at parties, club houses and even in our religious assemblies.

Nevertheless, societal reorientation through the media on ethics and conduct as a way of restoring public decency should be done while the police should be re-enlightened and re-equipped to maintain discipline and public morality.

If indiscipline and immorality must stop in our society, the time to stand up and fight is now. It is my sincere belief that all concerned will wake up to the task of ensuring that indiscipline and immorality are wiped out in our country.

Adebisi Akolade, Ibadan, Oyo State.