The Olu of Imasayi in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Lukmon Kuoye, has lamented the high rate of drug abuse in the country, saying, “In 2026, the world will be picking people living with mental disorders from the roads.”
He explained that the intake of drugs and substance abuse by youth should not be handled with levity.
The monarch stated this on Friday while addressing newsmen shortly after being awarded a doctorate degree in social work at Lagos State University (LASU).
Oba Lukmon, who was among the 11,195 graduates at the 27th convocation ceremony of the institution, stressed that these disorders most times are not a curse or spell but rather a result of depression, psychosis, and dementia.
He said, “Yes, if you see an Oba that is well-educated, the way he will be governing his kingdom will be different from those that are not educated, and it’s not just about going to school and attaining the certificate, but getting to the root. My research was on people living with mental disorders, and I want to tell you in the next 3 to 4 years, by 2026 or 2027, if care is not taken, we would be picking up people with mental disorders on the road because of drug and substance abuse. I have gone to the field and I have seen that.
“And depression too. In fact, one of the things we don’t know is that not everybody that has a mental disorder is being cursed under a spell. Depression, psychosis, dementia, and so many other conditions come in many ways.”
The monarch urged residents of Imasayi and the entire Yewa land not to relent in their efforts but to attain various purposes on earth.
“I want to lay a very good example that being an Oba does not deprive you of achieving your goals. The passion I have for education cannot be undermined.
“To me, ‘You cannot do it’ is out of my own dictionary. I can do it and I will get there, and I have done it and I am here now. So, my message to them is that this thing I have achieved is not about anything but a challenge to the young ones. Don’t rely on the small certificate you have with you, but know that you must accomplish one of the aims you are on earth for.”
Ogun monarch raises alarm over drug abuse, foresees mental health crisis by 2026
