An Epistle To Lagos State Leaders
Dear Lagos State leaders,
Every child is God's heritage and its peremptory upon parents and us to protect them and also make provisions for their future.
In every generation, there comes a time for the dematerialization cum disappearance of the elders and other adults vanguards of old humans from the planet "earth" and the mien as well as the appearance of the youths into the scene of existentialism, who then takes over the stage of leadership and where such youths were foundationally and fundamentally malnourished it becomes a problem and a challenge to societal growth and development. The situation has been so over the centuries past by and will continue to remain so till the return of the son of man.
In Christianity with reference to the scriptures, it is asserted in the book of proverbs 22:26: "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." And in Ephesians 6:4, it is asserted thus: "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
Correspondingly, the Quran says: "O! You, who believe, save yourself and your family from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones."(Qur’an, 66:6) (Surah Tahreem) in an interpretation by Hazrat All (radiyallahu anhu) this means that you must save your family by giving them good education and good manners.
Hence, Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said "Every one of you is a shepherd and every one of you will be answerable for his flock." Therefore to make children live successfully according to standards set by Islam, parents should devotedly train and educate them. Generally, no religion forbids the training of children and youths to becoming great adults.
It could be recalled that it was reported by this day newspaper of 15th August 2017 that Justice Atilade had on August 1, 2017, freed some underage inmates from the Badagry and kirikiri Prison respectively on the petition of Mrs.Modupe Olubanwo.
However, since this development, nothing is done for the remaining inmates who are preponderantly many. As a matter of fact, many are already dead; greater percentage is facing health related challenges due to the disgusting condition of the prison vicinage.
It is even disheartening most of the children are from poor homes. While their parents continued to find means of perfecting their bail conditions, the children continued to rot in jail.
Looking closely, keeping a child or juvenile in a prison for even up to 12 hours could traumatize and embellish such child with emotional and psychological problems which is detrimental to the child and the society. As such, we in the African continent should not disregard or overlook it.
The children are the future of our continent. Precisely speaking, Lagos state wouldn't have become great today if the leaders of the state were in the prison and not properly groomed.
Basically, the aim of the Criminal Justice System in respect of child offender is rehabilitative and reformatory. And in such cases as regards the child inmates; they should be placed under rehabilitative and reformative therapies and not the reverse of victimizing and subjugating them to a life we wouldn't want our own blood children to live.
More so, considering the state of infrastructural perspective of prisons with the capacity for the children inmates and also with the non-introduction of rehabilitative and reformatory services to rebrand and redevelop their mind and actions, we should not keep them uncared for in the dilapidated ones which we have.
Prisons are not places for children. Their minds are still on formative stage and the exposure to prison without adequate care for redress of attitudes and actions is detrimental. Therefore, keeping them in the prison is condemnable in totality.
If a child commits any offence punishable by law, with the aim of the criminal justice system of children, the child should be put under correctional facilities for reformation.
Enough of subjecting them to an environment we wouldn't want to reside in.
Finally, dear Lagos state leaders, the rate of development of a nation is directly proportional to its literacy level. Any nation who doesn't invest in the future of her youths and children is toying with her future. With a pen, pencil, books, and uniform together with a teacher we can change the world-not by ammunitions and maltreatment of child inmates.
The Messiah and the saviours could be in the prison. Get them out. Let them come and prepare to take up the future challenge.
Thank you respectfully
Yours in Nation Building,
Amb Enwongo-Abasi Francis
Readership Advocate|Education Activist|Librarian
25th October 2017