Dorothy Thompson PhD, The Executive Chairman, Ethical and Attitudinal Re-orientation Commission, EARCOM, Akwa Ibom State.These are really very disturbing times as our society is facing a massive debacle with the near total collapse or breakdown of moral fibre and ethical values. Despicable and hitherto frowned acts regarded as taboo have suddenly become the norm and seem acceptable as the new way of life. We seem to be losing it as the society is Inundated daily with actions that are not only absurd but abominable.
Social vices amongst the youths such absenteeism and lateness to school, disregard to constituted authority in schools, indecent and salacious dressing, pregnancy by young girls outside wedlock; increased penchant for dubious wealth and get rich quick schemes with the attendant increase in rituals for money making; armed robbery; kidnapping; stealing is now very rampant. Rape has become a recurring problem; incest is on the increase with some parents not only defiling their wards but also putting them in a family way; divorces are rampant as the structure of families have severely been threatened. Cultism is so rife in even primary schools that it is regarded as a thing of pride to be a cultist.
There has also been an upsurge in non-ethical practices in everyday life. Bribery and corruption have rendered the society incapacitated with the attendant negative effects on development. Nepotism is the order of the day as excellence is being sacrificed on the altar of expediency. Political thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes, vote buying and rigging have cast a shadow on the electoral processes of the Country. The realization of the dangers that the vices if left to go unabated have on the society prompted government to address the issues through value and attitudinal re-orientation of the citizenry.
Values are imbibed from our families and they stem from our social and cultural values. It needs be emphasised that the importance of values and attitudes cannot be overemphasized as they assist the society to grow and develop. They help create the future that the society desires to experience. As individuals, we join efforts with government and organization in making myriad of decisions every day.
The decisions made are a reflection of our values and beliefs, and they are always directed towards a specific purpose which is the satisfaction of our individual or collective wellbeing. When the values are not right, the society gets to bear the brunt of such misadventures.
It also needs to be appreciated that at times new life experiences may change values previously held. Individual values include enthusiasm, creativity, humility and personal fulfillment and they help reflect how we live our life and what we consider important for our own self-interests. Though the current scenario in today's world gives the impression that society doesn't practice many values because of the rise in discrimination, abuse of power, greed, hatred and all manner of anti-social vices staring us in the face; it is important to note that these values help us preserve the society, brings us together as one, gives us a sense of identity, promotes law and order prevents child delinquency as well as making people responsible. The special purpose vehicle to drive this all-important process in Akwa Ibom State is Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission (EARCOM).
Created in 2000, EARCOM has the mandate to re-create people with well-articulated and practical ethical values that sustain the socio-economic and political base of the State. The aim is to re-engineer the entire citizenry for greater responsibility and better society, restore ethical and moral sensibilities, propagate need to eschew all vices in public life including corruption, electoral and all forms of malpractices, mobilize people for positive participation in nation building, ensure and uphold leadership by example, restore and sustain discipline in public and private life as well as propagate and promote the spirit of labour, honesty and commitment.
The current board made up of dedicated, hardworking and patriotic members has in the past years recorded tremendous strides geared towards delivering on her charter that provides the mandate through timely and effective value and attitude reorientation of the State. Through the magnanimity of His Excellency the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, EARCOM has been able to engage the citizenry to deliver on her mandate, ensure value re-orientation.
We have, through deliberate plans, initiatives and actions made the Dakkada philosophy as enunciated by Governor Udom Emmanuel the pivot of our advocacy. The people of the State are constantly encouraged to adopt the Dakkada philosophy as a way of life, principle and belief system. The people have been made to bring into their consciousness that the Dakkada creed is a call to unity and determination; a clarion call to encourage indigenes of Akwa Ibom State to believe in themselves and take their destinies in their hands in order to realize their full potentials. There couldn't have been a better time to instill a sense of patriotism and self inputs in a people as it is our belief that this would be the main force that would ultimately galvanise as well as provide the much-needed support for His Excellency's completion agenda.
At EARCOM, we believe that the Dakkada creed is a stimulus for the actualization of the governor’s agenda both the 5-point of job creation, poverty alleviation, wealth creation, economic and political inclusion as well as infrastructural consolidation, expansion, the Completion agenda and of course the succession plan which is on course. It is because of this that we encourage the people not to see the Dakkada creed as a mere Government policy but a philosophy that people could buy into and make it a part of their sub-consciousness.
Attitudinal change is pivotal to experiencing growth and development especially in an underdeveloped economy as Nigeria's. In order to assist us in driving this message home, we have produced thematic songs, jingles and other publicity materials in different languages for ease of understanding. These messages are strategically placed in the media space through our website, advertisements in newspapers and radios, workshops, road shows, symposia, advocacy visits to primary, secondary schools, as well as tertiary institutions, markets, churches hospitals, Government offices, Nigerian Correctional Centres, motor parks, road transport unions, but to mention a few.
EARCOM has been at the forefront in the fight against cultism, rape, child theft and abuse and other social vices such as lateness and absenteeism to school, prostitution, homosexuality, exam malpractices and peer pressure amongst others. Every sector of our society is affected as the primary schools and secondary schools are not spared. An initiative wasn't implemented through schools in the 10 Federal Constituencies off Akwa Ibom State with the sole aim of reorientation and redirection of the moral compass of our children and future leaders by taking advocacy visits to the grassroots. EARCOM championed the campaign, Academic Not Vices with the sole aim of discouraging students from engaging in anti-social behaviour.
Prior to the 2019 general elections, EARCOM in collaboration with Knowledge First International Academy of Houston Texas organized a conference for peaceful elections in Akwa Ibom State. It had in attendance security agencies political parties and their agents; youths drawn from the 31 LGAs of the State. The aim was to discourage election violence, destruction and rigging, vote buying that takes place during, before and after the election. The advocacy was the first of its kind in the State.
The conference got a commitment from all participants on the need for political parties to play the game according to laid down rules, caution their members against destroying bill boards and campaign materials of opponents and engage members of other political parties in public brawls. Acts such as thuggery, ballot box snatching, rigging, and other ways of manipulating the outcome of elections were highlighted and frowned at. This is because of our belief that a society of value is one in which the citizens have a sense of belonging, have the right to exercise their franchise of voting and being voted for.
Health is wealth and the dangers the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic posed on the State and the Country was very much appreciated by EARCOM. Acting on our mandate demands, sensitization campaigns were effectively mounted on the media space in order to keep the people informed and apprised of Government directives and what the disease was and what was expected of the citizens. We produced and distributed face masks and hand sanitizers to stakeholders in the State.
In the aftermath of the EndSars Crisis, EARCOM organized a moral rebirth programme to sensitize the youths on the need to be patriotic and responsible. We partnered youths of Afaha Ube in Uyo and partnered with the security agencies to fish out those who looted shops and properties of citizens during the crisis. The result was massive and positive as recoveries were made in conjunction with the security agencies.
At EARCOM the philosophy of catching them young is paramount. Another first in Akwa Ibom State was recorded with the Children Prayer Network where select school children from across the State regularly gather to pray for the well being of the State. The main aim of the programme includes advocacies for moral rebirth and rectitude, Value Reorientation, Social Re-engineering and Attitudinal Reorientation. We believe that our world is more spiritual than physical and the foundation of our lives is God and as such the need for our children should be better off starting on that unfailing foundation of godliness which is the greatest gain.
The 2023 elections to the various political offices are around the corner and the season for electioneering and elections would soon be here. EARCOM wish to re-echo and re-emphasize the need for players to remain peaceful while going about their activities. The state has been largely peaceful owing to the peaceful demeanour of Governor Udom Emmanuel and his government. The Maintain Peace Movement has also come handy to help maintain, sustain and drive the message of peace knowing that development can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace. We encourage all political actors to go about their electoral activities devoid of rancour, all the shenanigans that go with it and focus on issue-based campaigns.
We would partner with relevant stakeholders and embark on voter sensitization of the citizens on the need to make their votes count by encouraging them to take part in the coming electoral process, campaign and vote for candidate of their choice without fear or hindrance. This is because we always advocate that a society of value is one in which citizens have a positive mental attitude towards government business and activities; support government to succeed and ensure they carry out their basic civic responsibilities.
Finally, it is important for citizens to take seriously the ideals of the Dakkada philosophy; rise up to the faith of greatness and be counted as those who have surmounted all challenges to chart a new course for themselves and society. We take infotainment very seriously. We have developed the Dakkada theme song which we shall in no distant future make available to all and sundry as we believe it would assist in further reinforcing our consciousness as a people. All citizens of the state must rise up and support the completion agenda of Governor Udom Emmanuel. We have no other state than this one. We must do everything to protect Akwa Ibom State.
Let the words of Albert Einstein sink in you - Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value. For a highly developed value system is like a compass. It serves as a guide to point you in the right direction when you are lost. Together, let us make Akwa Ibom State, a society of value.
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