The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has identified parental negligence as one of the reasons the get-rich-quick syndrome is becoming rampant among youths.
Oba Gbadebo blamed some parents, who encourage their children to venture into illegal activities such as Internet fraud, ritual killing, drug dealing, as well as human parts and organ trafficking.
He stated this on Monday at a press briefing on the 35th Lisabi Festival at the Ake Palace, Abeokuta.
The monarch said this year’s festival with the theme, ‘Youth inclusiveness: An emerging reality in socio-economic development of Egbaland’, would be used to campaign against illicit acquisition of wealth and other social vices in the country.
The monarch noted that good parenting was the only solution to the social vices affecting society.
He called on parents to train their children in a good culture that would make society proud.
“Another important reason for the choice of this year’s theme is the prevalent rush for illicit acquisition of wealth and ostentatious living prominent among our children and youths these days through various forms of vices such as ritual killings, kidnapping, human body parts and organs trafficking and merchandise, Internet fraud, drug deals and abuse,” the monarch said.
While fielding questions from journalists on the cause of moral decadence, the Alake, who spoke in Yoruba, said, “The issue here is that charity begins at home.
“The school cannot teach children everything they need to know. Parents should train their children in such a way that they will not bring shame to their families.
“In those days, our parents taught us how to be good and trustworthy; that is how it should be. Children should be a source of happiness to us and society at large and not the other way round.
“We are insisting that our children should represent the best behaviour. As Yoruba, we know people who are very well brought up; please ensure that you bring up your children in the way that you will be proud of them and not that they will do something that you will be hiding your face.”
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