According to him, the job does not only belong to politicians but to all members of society. He is appealing to fellow society leaders to not ignore the social issues in communities today.

“The situation we find ourselves in at the community level is an indication that many of us have failed to do what we have to do,” Azeez said ahead of Thursday’s sitting of the Senate.

The Senator says teachers, security forces, community groups, fathers’ and mothers’ organisations, uniformed groups, and churches are all community leaders. He adds that politicians are not the only leaders in society. He notes, however, that people are often discriminated against based on the community group to which they belong. This, he contends, is wrong.

“We have become so judgemental of each other that we start to polarise groups based on where they are from, and then that discrimination steps in and what political party you subscribe to and your religious convictions, and we focus on what I deem to be second tier issues,” he explained.

“We have to put this country first,” the Independent Senator stated. Azeez underscored. In difficult times, he says, collective responsibility should take center stage.

“Collective responsibility has to kick in right now, in that each group has an obligation to influence and change the things it needs to change within its sphere of influence, and I would like to see more leaders step up and play their part,” he said.

Numerous social programmes are being developed as a response to increased levels of youth delinquency and crime. Both government agencies and private sector groups are engaged in community activism at this time.