Although there were some years when the people of Anambra State witnessed what passed as crime free Christmas, this last one can be considered the best, given the peculiar circumstances. It was a time when the state was healing from the tragedy brought upon it by elements posing as freedom fighters and liberators but who turned out to be the instruments used to ravage their fatherland.
It was a period when hitherto annexed communities were regaining their freedom and many who fled from their communities were beginning to come back. If anything, it was feared that security in those areas could be breached, especially given the attack on a church in Lilu Community before the yuletide.
But during the festive period, all those places recorded no crime, just as the rest of the state. We feel this did not just happen. It came about because of proactive measures by the Anambra State Government and security agencies and to this end we give them kudos.
The citizenry moved about without let or hindrance and were able to celebrate with their loved ones. It was as if the criminals vanished into thin air. And we say, may this continue.
We urge the state government and security agencies not to rest on their oars, however, but to redouble efforts towards sustaining the peace. The longer it is sustained, the more difficult it will be for the criminals to regain their foothold. We urge the criminally minded to seek honest means of livelihood, as crime does not pay. It’s a certainty that no active criminal survives beyond five years. So, why live that kind of life?
Good enough, the Anambra State Government has a successful skill acquisition programme for the youth, by the name, “One Youth, Two Skills”. They can leverage this to become honest citizens imbued with skills to become successful in life. They can also key into similar programmes run by individuals in their communities. It is said that where there’s a will, there’s a way. Hard, honest work pays and the time to start is now.
Communities should also stop rewarding dubious people with chieftaincy titles or eulogizing such people as this makes some youths to want to reap where they did not sow or to focus on the end justifying the means. We are aware that much of the bad things we see today are as a result of the collective failure of society. When institutions fail, societal fabric is destroyed. It’s time we went back to doing things that ennoble society, so that the youth would be given the right foundation.
We wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year, in which we should strive to get things right.
