A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Ogun State, Amb Olufemi Ajadi has charged Nigerians to remember the less privileged in the society as the worst-hit from the hardship in the country.
Ajadi who visited the inmates of the Agodi Correctional Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State to celebrate his birthday, said it is worth identifying with the needy and inmates to show that they were alone.
He said such gesture in their process of change was to demonstrate that they too deserve moments that put smiles on their faces through provision of gifts during such celebrations and other compassionate activities.
Ajadi, through his Foundation, donated food items, drinks and essentials like medicine, detergents, toiletries, solar lights among others to the centre to improve the conditions and wellbeing of inmates and the staff.
The NNPP party chieftain also gave gifts to best behaved male and female inmates, and trophies to the winners of a football and table tennis champions sponsored by the Ajadi Foundation.
Speaking on the need to remember the inmates, Ajadi said, “I believe they have been separated from their families for one reason or the other. That is what took us to Agodi Correctional Centre this year.
“I know government alone cannot provide the needs of the people at the Correctional Centres and so, I have made up my mind, that at least once in a year, on my birthday, I will make the inmates happy.
“The Correctional Centres inmates have been abandoned. Nobody give them recognition. They are the people that needed to be celebrated. That is why we started this celebration two years ago at Ibara Correctional Centre,” he said.
While also pledging to work with authority of the Correctional Centre to free seven inmates by paying their fines, Ajadi also promised to provide solar panels and inverters to power the borehole at the centre, and donate a bus for the facility.
“Going round the Agodi Correctional Centre in Ibadan today, I am not happy. The condition of the inmates are nothing to write home about. If you see where they are staying, it is not the best. I know the government is trying but it should do more. We see how people in the Correctional Centres in developed countries are treated. I plead with the Federal government to do more for the inmates for the period they will stay there in the Centres.
”I also want to implore the Federal Government to please recognise those working in such environment like Correctional Centres and give them better working conditions,” he pleaded.
He further called on the government to improve the facilities in the Correctional Centres, stressing “it is not all the inmates that are condemned criminals. We have many people there awaiting trials who have not been pronounced guilty for any offence. At the end of the day, some of these people may not be found guilty of the offences they are remanded for.
“I know President Bola Tinubu’s administration is a listening one and will improve the conditions of the Correctional Centres.”
He also called on privileged Nigerians to help the government in providing adequate facilities in the Correctional Centres. “They won’t carry money to heaven. They should put smiles on the faces of inmates, at least, once in a while,” he added.
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