Okorocha To Senate: Lets Create Ministry Of Happiness To End Rape, Suicide

Senator Rochas Okorocha, representing Imo West senatorial district, has called on the Senate to push for the creation of ministry of happiness to address rising cases of rape, suicide, among others in the country.

Okorocha, who was the immediate past governor of Imo State, claimed that the Ministry of Health and the police are “not equipped” to handle such cases, adding that a special department like the ministry of happiness should be saddled with such task.

While in office as Imo governor, Okorocha had created ministry of happiness “to address bitterness” in his state. He also appointed Mrs Ogechi Ololo as the state’s first Commissioner for Happiness and Purpose Fulfilment.

The Senator recommended the creation of the Federal Ministry of Happiness while contribution to a on the “rising incidence of suicides amongst Nigerians” which was sponsored by Senator Theodore Orji of Abia Central on Tuesday.

He said: “Mr Senate president, may I suggest that whether it’s the issue of rape, suicide, let us create a department to address these issues.

“Ministry of health is not up to that, Police is not equipped for that, ministry of information is not equipped for that, we must have a department where people can go and express themselves – that ministry must be a ministry or department of happiness.

“All our prayers appear to me as though we are embarking on academic exercise that might not reflect any practical reality.

“A step should be further taken to find out why these people are not happy to the extent that they will take their life.”

The Senate had during today’s senate plenary urged the Federal Government to ban the production, importation and circulation of Sniper insecticide in Nigeria as a way to curb the spate of suicide cases in the country.

Okorocha had during the plenary also urged religious leaders in the country to focus their message more on love and peace to help the situation.