THE high walls of the Onitsha Prison recently, could neither overwhelm nor swallow the shouts within the confines of the prison, but this time, it was not a shout of agony or despair but of praise, dancing and merry making as the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, most Reverend Dr Valerian Okeke celebrated his 58th birthday with the inmates.The celebration which started as early as 8.00am in the morning began with a solemn mass at the chapel where both the female and male inmates turned out in large number to receive spiritual admonishment.The inmates, most of who were awaiting trial for various offences, used the opportunity to pray for God's forgiveness and sued for co-operation from people from the outside world to always remember them as they bore their cross. While others renounced their evil ways outright, others promised to turn a new leaf after their term if they were properly reintegrated into the society.In his sermon, Okeke charged the inmates to show genuine fruit of repentance and see their stay in the prison as a correctional and rehabilitational phase that would prepare them for resourceful and meaningful life after their term.He enjoined them not to be bitter against the society but concentrate on acquiring skills that would assist them to be self reliant and responsible citizens, 'I want you to know that you are not forgotten, I want to give you hope, to assure you that the society is ready to welcome you if you are reformed, you should see here as a correctional facility, so that you don't come out bitter with the society.'The unassuming priest, however, call on the federal and state governments to intensify their efforts in the reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners across the country by building and equipping skill acquisition centre in the prisons, adding that if properly reformed through training on skill acquisition, the immates would become responsible members of the society after their prison terms.He observed that the prison though, a place of punishment for various offences, should be seen and operated as a correctional centre where virtues of hard work and obedience would he taught the inmates.On the significance of the birthday celebration, the Archbishop, said that he chose to celebrate with the prisoners to show them love and care that would impact on their attitude and give them a sense of belonging in the society despite their incarceration.'I am a child of God and they are also to children of God, I want them to know that they are not forgotten, I want to give them hope, to assure them that the society is ready to welcome them if they reform, let them see here as a correctional facility, so that they don't come out bitter with the society.'Okeke also admonished the society not to stigmatise the ex-convicts or make it difficult for them to be properly integrated into the society, arguing that 'they may not be the worst law breakers after all.'In his response, the deputy comptroller of Onitsha Prison, Anthony Ubaeke, said that the presence of the highly revered cleric would instill moral and spiritual discipline in the inmates, while calling on Nigerians to have a change of attitude towards prisoners and ex-convicts.Highlights of the event include a football match between the inmates who displayed in-depth skills of the leather game and a special rendition by the prison choir who sang until the high walls were vibrating much to the amazement of the visitors who obviously wished they were not restricted but could be engaged for social and religious gatherings.Earlier in his speech, member representing Onitsha North in the state House of Assembly, Chugbo Enwezor, lamented the increasing number of awaiting trial cases, saying that it was largely responsible for over crowding in the prisons.The lawmaker commended the Archbishop and the Catholic family for their role in assisting the prisoners and prison authorities in the tedious task of transforming the inmates through advocacy and sincere show of love which he said had lifted their spirit and resulted in genuine repentance.He disclosed that through his chambers, he had provided free legal services to some of the inmates, while assuring that he would bring the issue of skill acquisition center in the prison to the notice of the House.He, however, blamed the delay of justice to the manner the judiciary handled litigation, noting that most times, suspects were held in prison while awaiting trial for several years.Before the curtain was finally drawn on the suspense filled celebration, the Archbishop presented gift items ranging from bags of rice, other food items, toiletries, clothing and undisclosed sum of money to the prisoners, who from their looks never wanted the celebration to end, but it all ended on a humorous note with the visitors scrambling to leave the prison premises before the gates were finally locked.
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