BY SUNNY A. DAVID
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has cautioned the youths against continued consumption of hard drugs as they are destructive to the human body generally.
“Think of hard drugs, cocaine now is mkpulummili and the impression we get is when it destroys a person, it is difficult to rehabilitate that person again.”
Bishop Ezeokafor raised the caution against the backdrop of heightened drug consumption during the 25 year — Silver Jubilee anniversary and confirmation of 209 candidates at St. Theresa’s Parish Enugwu-Ukwu.
“It is unfortunate that because of the situation in the country, many youths have chosen the other way of life, because if things are really moving well, they have jobs, but here you see people graduating from university and have no jobs.
“It is said that an idle man is the devil’s workshop, so, that does not mean that they will destroy themselves.
“Every society that wants to make a meaning out of life, must take special care of young people because they will eventually take over, when in a society, the young people destroy themselves, there is a serious problem.
“The Church should ensure that people have the right conscience because with the right conscience, people will do the right thing.
“I am calling on young people to be close to God; and not trying to get the things of the World by all means, to know the types of friends they keep. I believe that God who created us has a mission which he will fulfill.
“I am calling on parents to do their work well because if somebody has a good family background, he can have a base, when and how to live their lives.
“On the just-concluded Governorship election, the present government has done its best; if we don’t expect something new, we will not conduct the election, so I want the government to touch lives of people by providing the basic amenities and other necessities.”
Mr. Emmanuel Atuegwu, a Parishioner, enjoined the youths to desist from these hard drugs because it would never take them to anywhere, the mkpulummili, which is consumed by some youths is caused by greediness, without greediness, there would never be mkpulummili.
“Let the youths embrace God because mkpulummili will totally destroy them, as there is no going forward or backward, thereby leading to untimely death of such people.”
He commended Bishop Ezeokafor, who he said, “was ordained from above, he sees things of this World as meaningless, the Priest, which he trained also followed his footsteps and prayed to God to bless him and the Parish Priest, Rev. Jude Uba.
The Chairman of Christian Men’s Organisation (CMO) of the Parish Mr. Reginald Okoye who is also the sub-Chairman, planning committee in his words said that the issue of mkpulummili is a global challenge saying that parents had a lot of work to do.
“As an engineer, I see them, men and women are involved, we need to work to correct their mindsets.”
The Parish Priest, Fr. Uba, the Dean of Enugwu-Ukwu Deanery said that at 25, a serious-minded institution would have tangible things on ground; thanking God that they had reached that height.
“At 25, we are able to put up the Parish Church hall for external exams, constant power, school which we built to give our children quality education with equipped physics, agric, chemistry, labs, library, water, enabling environment for learning, Grotto of blessed Virgin Mary and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre built by Mrs Doris Ijeoma Nwankwo in memory of her late husband.
“Our Parishioners are happy sighting these on ground, these will help them come closer to God, build closer relationship with God and also make them to experience the beauty of God.”
Chairman, Silver Jubilee Committee, Noble Lawrence Okonkwo said that after the Golden Jubilee celebration that the Parish would plan on how to impact positively on the youths many of them are well to do in our village, we are going to finance them.
