April 19, (THEWILL)- The Chairman-elect of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Hon. Target Segibo, has said the prevalent security challenges in some communities of the local government area could be attributed to parental failure and frivolous lifestyle of children and wards involved in crime and criminality in the area.
Segibo, who was a pioneer member of the State House of Assembly between 1999-2003, stated this in Yenagoa, the state capital, recently while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after receiving his Certificate of Return from the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC).
He indicated his continued desire to work for the peace and rapid socio-economic development of the local government and noted that having been actively involved in the politics of the area for decades now, he was more grounded in working on modalities towards ensuring enduring peace and unity in troubled communities of the area.
The Chairman-elect, who also lauded the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, the state’s leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the electorates for finding him worthy to be elected Chairman of the local government, called on parents/guardians not to renege on their primary responsibilities of watching over their children and wards, noting that as the largest local government area in the state, Southern Ijaw should also be noted for peace and development.
He said: “For over 20 years I’ve been living peacefully with all my neighbours both at home in Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw LGA and here in Yenagoa.
“I’ve grown up children, but I don’t give them more than what they needed as students to go to school and stay okay as a father because I discovered that most of the insecurity challenges we’re facing today in the Southern Ijaw LGA and other parts of the state is traceable to parental failure and children’s wanting to lead a frivolous lifestyle.
“As parents/guardians we should be able to know the kind of friends our children/wards keep. We must not pamper them. We must tell them that they’ve to do something legal to earn a living. We must question any source of sudden wealth and affluence on the part of our children and wards.
“I want to assure our people of Southern Ijaw that as their incoming Chairman, when I’m sworn in, having been actively participating in the politics and other activities of the area, collectively we’ll work to ensure enduring peace, unity and development of the LGA.”
About the Author
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
