By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha
The Presidential candidate for Labour Party in 2023 Nigerian general election, Mr Peter Obi and Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somto Udenze were among the prominent persons who were at the Federal Correctional Center, Onitsha when Archbishop Valerian Okeke celebrated Easter festival with the inmates.
Appreciating Archbishop Okeke, Mr Peter noted that what the Archbishop is performing in the Correctional Center is quite enormous, saying that it is more than evangelism.
He urged the inmates not to see their conditions as the worst case, saying that due to situation of Nigeria, everybody is in prison no matter the person’s level, even as he urged citizens to be praying for politicians so that they should utilize public fund and do work for them.
Similarly, Rt. Hon. Somto Udenze eulogized Archbishop Okeke for his magnanimous act towards inmates, saying that he was glad to be part of the Easter trip to the Correctional Center.
Hon Udenze encouraged the inmates, adding that everybody was an inmate in the eyes of God, just as he noted that even the inmates were better for the fact that they were under the canopy of Archbishop Okeke.
He further explained that whatever condition, God is aware of it, saying that there is still hope for Nigeria.
Recall that Most Rev. Okeke’s visit to Correctional Center is thrice a year during which he meets with the inmates, pray for them, bless them and admonish them words of encouragements.
Earlier in his sermon, Archbishop Okeke said that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a great hope for eternity to the people of God, adding that Jesus Christ had defeated the power of death and resurrected as He promised his Apostles.
He further said that we should look for the things of Haven, so that the power of resurrection could change our ways to live a decent life.
“Seek the things of Heaven and those things of Heaven are those things Jesus Christ thought us. They are truth, love, peace and joy. When you start doing all these, the power of resurrection will change you,” Archbishop Okeke said.
In his comment, the Chaplain of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Correctional Center, Onitsha, Rev. Fr. Bartholomew Okpalaugo extolled the Archbishop Okeke in a special way for his frequent visits to the prisoners as well as all his transformation strides in the prison yard.
Also speaking, the Anambra State Commander of Correctional Center, Mr Usifo Joseph affirmed that Archbishop Okeke has transformed the Correctional Center, saying the prison management was equally receiving the positive impact of his prayers to them.
The Anambra State Correctional Center boss, however, appreciated the visit of Mr. Peter Obi and called him humble man of Nigeria, saying that God would take him somewhere, pledging to make the Correctional Center better like the way Archbishop Okeke is doing.
Items donated to the prisoners by Archbishop Okeke included toiletries, assorted laundry soap, assorted slippers, food items, live cow and one cow slaughtered including five bags of rice donated by Mr Peter Obi.
