Gov. Bassey Otu and his wife, Rev. (Mrs.) Eyoanwan Otu, 3rd and 4th left. Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, Chief of Staff to the Governor, 1st left, Deputy Comptroller of Corrections, Effiong Edet, Mr. Adeyinka Adebayo, Comptroller of Correction,, Cross River, 5th left and Chief Imam, Calabar Central Mosque, Olowolayemo Kabir, during the visit to the prisons on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.
PRESS RELEASE
In the spirit of Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu was at the main correctional centre in Calabar on Sallah visit to felicitate with the inmates.
Otu, who was accompanied by his wife, Rev. Mrs Eyoawan Otu, said the visit to the Afokang Correctional Center was to identify with the inmates during the Sallah festivities and to encourage them not to give up hope.
“We are all in the world, sometimes we experience bad, sometimes good. I am here to assure you that all hope is not lost. We decided to come and celebrate here with you because you deserve it,” the governor said.
The First Lady of the State, Rev. Mrs. Otu, who organised the event, said it was aimed at giving the inmates a sense of belonging and to share the love as exemplified by the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim.
Rev. Mrs. Otu said it was her own way of sharing love to the inmates and to encourage them that being in prison is not the end of the road for them.
Speaking earlier, Comptroller of Corrections, Cross River State Command, Mr. Adeyinka Adebayo, expressed appreciation to the governor and his wife for the visit, explaining that the Afokang Prisons has a total of 573 inmates, with 67 on death row and pleaded with the governor to assist in providing some basic needs of the prison facility.
Adebayo said, “Let me say a very big thank you to your Excellencies for making time to visit us. 99% of the Inmates we have here are from Cross River State. From what you have seen here, you will agree with me that, inside here are enormous potentials as displayed here. It is our prayer that you will please extend the dividends of democracy to us here.”
Food items, toiletries and cash donations were among the items donated during the visit.
Signed:
Emmanuel Ogbeche
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Cross River State
28/6/23