The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, visited the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Kuje, on Tuesday to mark his 8th year anniversary on the throne, and not to see the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The explanation was given by the spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, ASC Samuel Duza, yesterday, following the controversy that trailed the Ooni’s visit.
According to Duza, the Ooni said his visit was necessitated by his empathy for humanity and his belief in giving second chances to people to correct their mistakes.
The eminent monarch expressed joy on the warm reception accorded him and his wife on the special occasion.
The Ooni urged the inmates not to see their incarceration as the end of life, rather they should see it as an opportunity to turn a new leaf. In his words “I am here for the real people who need hope, your condition today will be history tomorrow, so don’t give up”.
He secured the release of five inmates through payment of fines.
The Ooni also admonished them to be of good behaviour, comfort themselves in line with the rules of the custodial centre and forgive themselves.
Oba Ogunwusi promised to support the inmates’ rehabilitation programme by giving materials to aid their skills acquisition scheme.
In her speech, the deputy convener, Hope Alive Initiative for Africa, Olori Temitope Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi said the visit was not only to celebrate the remarkable reign of his majesty but to reflect on societal issues which, according to her, “we are reminded of the power of forgiveness, redemption and second chance.
She applauded the minister of interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the correctional service authorities for doing a great job in the reformation and reintegration of the offenders.
On his part, the controller-general of corrections, Haliru Nababa, appreciated the monarch and the Olori for choosing Kuje Prison to show their benevolence and assured them of the service commitment to the implementation of Service’s mandate of reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates of offenders.
The CGC who was represented by controller of corrections for planning, research and statistics, Ajibogun Olatubosun, admonished the discharged inmates to be good ambassadors of the centre in their future endeavors.
