Archbishop Okeke , Obi visit Onitsha Prisons---as Archbishop lauds Jonathan for laying down position for Nigeria’s unity

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of

Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, and former Governor Peter Obi were at the Onitsha Prisons yesterday to celebrate with the inmates.

Highlights of the mass were celebration of Holy Communion and confirmation of 18 inmates by the Archbishop even as Okeke and Obi donated edibles as well as domestic and sanitary range of items to each of the inmates.

Archbishop Okeke commended President Goodluck Jonathan for laying down his position and ego for Nigeria’s unity.

Okeke said this during a special Easter Mass (service) held at the Onitsha Prisons in Anambra on Sunday.

The cleric, whose homily was titled: ``God has His Own Plans Always’’, noted that it takes a man filled with trust in God to sacrifice such an exalted position no matter any amount of pressure.

He urged Christians to always allow the will of God to prevail rather than deciding and following their own will.

``We still hold God a lot of gratitude that President Goodluck Jonathan has the humility to bow to God’s own plan.

``Jonathan by making chance for the President-elect has allowed peace to reign; because we have had enough bloodshed already in the country.

``I want to commend and thank President Jonathan because he is a father. And he understood that Nigeria is more important to him than ego, power and fame.

``We pray God should bless him and that God in His infinite grace should give us more leaders that are accommodating like him to move us forward,’’ he said.

The archbishop, however, urged prison inmates to be of exemplary conduct; adding that there stay in the prison was momentary.

He assured them that his office would liaison with the judiciary to facilitate the release of inmates, who had been grant bail but were unable to be set free due to the on-going Judiciary Staff Union strike.

Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, thanked the Catholic Church and the archbishop for the special attention given to Onitsha prisons’ infrastructure and its inmates’ welfare.

Obi, however, urged Christians to continue to pray for the peace and unity of the country.

``President Jonathan seeks peace in order to avoid bloodshed and through this, saved the country anarchy, which might come following bloodshed.

``He is a statesman, a compatriot and someone that genuinely loves this country and want the best for our people,’’ he said.