By Olivia Obijiaku
The Dean of Samaru Deanery of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria, Very Rev. Prof. Fr. Peter Bauna Tanko has blamed some of the problems in the society, including kidnapping to poor parenting. Delivering the homily on Mothering Sunday, March 30, 2025, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, he intimated that mothers have greater responsibilities towards their children, because they spend more time with them than fathers do.
He acknowledged and commended parents who train their children well for the effort they are making, affirming that God will reward them, even as he charged those who do not live up to expectation to turn new leaves, reminding them all that God is watching them.
“We cannot thank God enough for our mothers.” The priest expressed. “Between the man and the woman, God gives an opportunity to learn about the virtue of patience, mostly to the woman. This is because the mother spends a lot of time with the children. Mothers also have a greater responsibility towards their children. What values are injected into these children as they grow?”
“When you examine the society, so many youths are behaving in a very bizarre manner. When you do a critical analysis, some of these problems emerged as a result of faulty training of children. We know that no matter how much some families try, some children grow up and meet peer groups that expose and destroy them – despite the efforts of the parents. We know also that sometimes, some parents are very careless – they do not give enough time and enough attention to the children.”
Reacting to the kidnap and killing of Fr. Sylvester Okechwukwu of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, as masterminded by an insider, the clergyman asserted that the offender acted in like manner because he lacked motherly touch and discipline. “He grew up to kidnap a priest and because he is not trained in the fear of God. We now saw what he did that to a priest who is not only feeding him, but taking care of his two children.” He added.
