Bayelsa State Government has restated the need for parents to instil discipline and moral values to be able to build a productive families and society..
The state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stated this, at the weekend, when he led a delegation of the state government to pay last respects to Late Madam Hannah Cocodia, mother of Political Adviser to the Governor Chief Collins Cocodia, in Benin City, Edo State.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor maintained that only a morally balanced family built on sound principles such as fear of God, honesty, truthfulness, hard work and contentment could birth a virile society.
He insisted that parents have a greater responsibility to perform in children upbringing because those with criminal tendencies in society such as Yahoo boys, kidnappers, cultists, conmen, bandits and prostitutes all come from families.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, however, described the late Mrs. Hannah Cocodia as a virtuous woman who deserved the credit for raising God-fearing children like Chief Collins Cocodia, noting that her demise had created a huge vacuum in the family.
He consoled the family to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived an exemplary lifestyle as can be deciphered from the various testimonies given in her honour.
He said: “We commiserate with the Cocodia family. We also wish to commiserate with the Osheje and the Omonigho families that are here and other extended family members.
“Our heart as a government and the good people of Bayelsa State goes to you in mourning the loss of your beloved mother, aunty and sister
“Her death at the age 75 years has also created emotional vacuum, because she no more present to talk to anyone.
“Mama was a good mother. You know a good mother when she dies. When a mother dies and there are no people to stand by the children, that will explain the kind of a mother she was.
“We want to commend her for bringing up her children in the fear of God and moral standard. The quality and lifestyle being exhibited by Hon Chief Collins Cocodia and other children are clear indications that mama did a great job as a parent. So we celebrate her for being a good mother.
“Let me use this medium to talk to all mothers. A pleasant family contributes to making a pleasant society. If all the families in Nigeria will have no Boko Haram, kidnappers, unknown gun men, yahoo boys, cultists and 419ners Nigeria will be a pleasant society.
“This is true because, every cultist, kidnapper, bandit, yahoo boy, unknown gun man or 419ner is from a family. So we celebrate this good mother today. Let’s train our children as children filled with the fear of God.”
The Deputy Governor particularly tasked mothers to emulate Madam Hannah Cocodia and spare no effort in raising God-fearing children by inculcating in them positive morals and values to become responsible citizens.
The large delegation of the Bayelsa Government included National Assembly members from Bayelsa, House of Assembly members, State Executives of the Peoples Democratic Party, commissioners, special advisers and other government functionaries.
