The Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Reverend Valerian Okeke, has admonished politicians to uphold the spirit of brotherliness in their electioneering.
Archbishop Okeke was speaking during the celebration of his sixty-eight birthday and forty years as a priest with the inmates of Nigerian Correctional Center, Onitsha
Government House Correspondent Ejike Abana reports that Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano and wife, Dr. Ebelechukwu attended the celebration in company of the APGA Standard Bearer, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, his running mate, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Oye, former National Chairman of APGA, Senator Victor Umeh, Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Primus Odili, among others.
In a homily titled ‘Turning Your Challenges into Blessings and Opportunities’, the Catholic prelate called for a stop to the killings and bloodshed, hatred and divisive tendencies and work for the good of the society, especially this period.
While asking the inmates to develop themselves to become productive in the future, Archbishop Okeke urged Ndi Anambra to always live their lives bearing in mind that Anambra State had always been a pace setter in the scheme of things in the Nigerian nation, asking God to bless the inmates, state and the country at large.
In his speech , Governor Obiano, who asked the inmates not to wallow in self-pity but try to improve themselves said that he has liaised with the comptroller to review a list of people in the four correctional facilities in the state, so that he can grant them amnesty.
He emphasized that he will sign it off as soon as it gets to his table through the Attorney General of the state.
The governor also asked him to find out Ndi Anambra in various correctional facilities across Nigeria, to see how best they can get amnesty for them even as he canvassed for votes for the APGA candidate, Professor Soludo, who he described as the best among other candidates.
The Comptroller of Correctional Service, Anambra State, Mr. Patrick Chukwuemeka described the visit as a day of thanksgiving to God, the Archbishop, the governor and everyone, who has supported their work, calling for more collective efforts to reform and redeem the inmates.
Other dignitaries that attended the Pontifical High Mass were the ADC flagbearer, Chief Akachukwu Nwankpo, PDP flagbearer, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo and ZLP candidate, Mr. Obiora Okonkwo as well as former Governor Peter Obi.
Prayers by the Archbishop and songs by the inmates among others climaxed the event.
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