By Ebere Suzy
The Governor of Anambra, Chief Willie Obiano and the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, His Grace Most Rev. Valerian Okeke yesterday celebrated their Easter with prison in mates at Onitsha prisons.
The prisoners and other worshipers who joined in the service were overwhelmed with joy and surprised when the governor stepped into the prison premises for the 8.am service which was the first time an executive governor of the state was attending Easter service with the prisoners in Onitsha prison.
As for Archbishop Okeke, he has for some years now been a regular celebrant at the prison yard as all his christmas, Easter and Birthdays were celebrated at Onitsha prisons as part of his resolution to identify with the prison in mates.
In his sermon at the largely attended church service, Archbishop Okeke preached peace and love among the people.
He en joined the prisoners to always see their confinement as a necessary experience for their transformation.
The Archbishop said that virtually all humanity are prisoners, pointing out that while some were confined to prison yards, others were outside in the world having their experiences.
According to him, any prisoner of the land must know that he had already been set free by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
He expressed joy that in less than two months after he was sworn- in as the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Obiano had come to worship and identify with the inmates of Onitsha Prison, an action which he said was significant of great things that would happen in Onitsha prison.
The Archbishop stressed the need for christians to always bear in mind the reason for celebration of Easter which is the resurrection of christ after his death on the cross, pointing out that if christ died and did not resurrect, we should not have been worshipping and celebrating him.
He said that when christ died, we died with him and when he rose from death, we also rose with him.
According to him, those who crucified christ thought that was his end but that death actually became his beginning.
Prayers were offered for the prisoners and their early release from prison, the church, souls of the dead and Anambra state.
He called on the people of Anambra state to always maintain first in all good things, pointing out that the state was endowed with abundance of blessings.
He said, ” Anambra State has a dream which no other state will surpass Anambra state in good things.”
“We have been blessed as a state and we want other states to emulate us.”
The Archbishop announced that eight bags of rice was prepared with one cow for the inmates while assorted types of beaverages including one life cow, toilet soup, toilet papers, biscuits, washing soap etc were also provided.
In his short speech, Governor Obiano said that his government provided food for 1,000 inmates while the musically group were given N100, 000.
In his vote of thanks, the Deputy Controller of prisons in charge of Onitsha, Mr Azuka Ndupu expressed gratitude to the governor and the Archbishop for their concern to Onitsha prisons.
He told the Governor that Onitsha prisons was highly overcrowded, pointing out that the prisons which was merit for about 300 inmates, new has 892 inmates.
He appealed to the Governor to assist the prisons with schools for the inmates where they could receive formal education.
