By Chuks Eke
The Archbishop of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, has revealed that he is always happier each time he is celebrating his birthday with inmates at the National Correctional Centre in Onitsha, Anambra State, than celebrating with the rich and mighty.
He said since he discovered that it is even a part of the secrets of his longevity as his joy usually have no bound each time he visited the Onitsha Correctional Center and celebrated his birthdays, Christmas or Easter with the inmates.
Speaking at his 72nd birthday celebration on Monday at the Onitsha Correctional Center, Archbishop Okeke noted that any rich or mighty who really loves to identify with him during his birthdays should join him at the Correctional Center, adding that the gesture, which he does annually, is another way of showing love to the inmates and giving them a sense of belonging while at the same time expressing gratitude to God.
According to the Archbishop, the importance of thanksgiving in the life of a Christian cannot be over-emphasized, adding that thanksgiving is a gratitude while gratitude is a feeling of appreciation for good things someone has done for you.
He noted that thankssgiving and gratitude to God will always remain the greatest sacrifice to offer during ones birthday activity.
He said, “Thanksgiving is a gratitude while gratitude is a feeling of appreciation for good things someone has done for you. You must express gratitude when it is real. Gratitude not expressed is not real. Gratitude must be expressed before it is accepted to be real”.
“You can give gratitude to God because He keeps you alive. You can express gratitude to God because He grants you the grace to succeed in your business endeavors. You can give gratitude to God because of your achievements. Someone can express gratitude to God because of journey. It is a duty for you to express gratitude anytime you received good thing”.
“Expressing gratitude to God is imperative in someone’s life, gratitude attracts more blessings from God, it paves the way for more prosperity and progress.”
The Archbishop, while admonishing the inmates to become better persons after serving their prison terms, urged authorities to improve on the atmospheric conditions of the correctional centres.
He also called for an improved electricity supply across Nigerian Correctional Centres, adding that electrification including installation of Solar energies will enable the Prison officers and the inmates to power their cell phones in case of emergency and also for the inmates to feel a sense of belonging.
Also at the event were the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Uche Ekwunife, the Young Progressives Party, YPP candidate, Sir Paul Chukwuma; the Labour Party candidate, Chief George Moghalu and the Chief of Staff to former Governor Willie Obiano, Primus Odili.
Speaking to newsmen inside the Correctional Center, shortly after the Holy Mass, the APC deputy governorship candidate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, commended the Archbishop for his continous dedication to the prison ministry and his generosity to the inmates.
Disclosing that she was inspired by the Archbishop’s example of giving everyone a second chance, Ekwunife promised that APC will extend it dividends of democracy to the Correctional facility, if voted into power during November 8 governorship election in the state.
Also promising that the party will provide solar panels and inverters to supply electricity to all correctional centers in Anambra State, Ekwunife urged the inmates to make use of the skills acquisition program at the center so that they can be productive members of the society when they are released.
Also speaking, the Anambra State Controller of Correctional Center, Anslem Ike praised God for the life of Archbishop Okeke, praying God to grant him many more years with good health.
He revealed that he is the 20th Comptroller of Correctional Center in Anambra State and he has been hearing about the achievements of Archbishop Okeke’s marvelous works at Onitsha Correctional Center even before he was posted to Anambra state as the state Comptroller, even as he noted that it was a great privilege for him to meet Archbishop Okeke alive one on one.
Among the items donated to the inmates by Archbishop Okeke included; toilet soups, assorted tissue paper, laundry soap, assorted tooth pastes, biscuits, bottled water, birthday cake, cooked rice, two life cows.
