The Alarming Trend of Parental Abdication: A Call to Action
A startling revelation from Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Tunji Disu has shed light on a disturbing phenomenon: parents abandoning their roles and relying on law enforcement to discipline their children. This abdication of parental responsibility can have far-reaching consequences, as highlighted by AIG Disu’s personal experience.
AIG Disu recounts the story of a retired soldier who demanded that the police kill his son, a university student arrested for cultism. The father’s anger and frustration were palpable, but his subsequent return with food and concern for his son’s well-being revealed a deeper truth: anger is often a manifestation of helpless love.
AIG Disu notes that many parents bring their children to the police, demanding that they be “disciplined” through detention or even torture. However, this approach is not only ineffective but also damaging. Punishment alone cannot fix a broken path; instead, it can lead to further rebellion and resentment.
AIG Disu emphasizes that the issue is not a lack of discipline, but rather a lack of presence. Parents must take ownership of their role as first teachers, guiding their children with wisdom, love, and correction. The police can enforce laws, but they cannot replace the love and guidance that only parents can provide.
AIG Disu’s message is clear: parents must be present, listen, correct, and love their children. The police cannot replace the voice of a parent, and handcuffs are not parenting tools. By reclaiming their role as primary caregivers and guides, parents can help shape their children’s futures and prevent them from straying down a path of destruction.
The story of the retired soldier’s son serves as a testament to the transformative power of parental love and guidance. With his father’s support and encouragement, the young man was able to turn his life around, becoming educated, married, and changed. This outcome was not the result of punishment or discipline, but rather the result of his father’s decision to choose support over abandonment.
From Assistant Inspector General of Police Tunji Disu, now in charge of Federal Capital Territory.
