A former Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area in Rivers State, Edward Pepple has advised youths to focus on building strategic relationships with the future in mind.

Pepple said this during the 98th birthday celebration of Helen Asinyeofori Owen Banigo held recently in Port Harcourt, which was organised by the GAARELS.

The ex-LGA boss traced the origin of their relationship with Mrs. Banigo to her late son, Emmanuel Opuada Owen Banigo, informing that the celebrant, whom he fondly called “Mama”, took special interest in the friends of her son, particularly his close friends called the GAARELS.

The GAARELS is a sobriquet for a group of friends with their initials: Grant, Alpheaus, Albert, Richard, Emmanuel, Lawrence and S for their friends.

He described his relationship with Mama’s son and the GAARELS as strategic, built with the future in mind, pointing out that such relationships can be sustained and outlive the existence of those who initiated it and extend to their families.

“We looked at ourselves as people who would sit with our friends even at 70, but, unfortunately, Mama’s son passed on, so we continued.”

“We still have him as part of us in our memory. So, we try to do those things he would do if he was alive. We built the relationship for the future.”

He counseled the younger generation to look beyond immediate gratification such as school or age group when building relationships but have the future in perspective.