Governor Otu, Wife Mark Eid-Al-Adha At Custodial Centre

The inmates held Governor Otu, his wife and a few guests spellbound with various forms of entertainment including a spectacular dance competition.

In a brief remark, the governor said the visit to the Custodial Center was to identify with the inmates during the Sallah festivities and to encourage them not to give up hope.

He said, “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.”

Also speaking, the wife of the governor, Reverend Eyoanwan Otu, said the visit was aimed at giving the inmates a sense of belonging and to share the love as exemplified by the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim.

Mrs. Otu, who organised the get-together, explained “this is my own way of sharing love to all of you and to encourage to keep hope alive; take advantage of the different vocational skills offered within this facility and develop yourselves for easy reintegration into society.

“We are really impressed with the types of entertainment you have displayed here. You all have God-given talents, which we have all witnessed today. In the spirit of the season, we have come bearing gifts for everyone just like the Holy Prophet encourage sharing with humanity,” she said.

Responding, the substantive Controller of Corrections, Cross River State Command, Adeyinka Oyun expressed appreciation to the governor and his wife for the visit to the Custodial Centre in Afokang, Calabar.

Oyun, who explained that the centre has a total of 573 inmates, with 67 of those on Death Row (IDR), pleaded with Governor Otu to support custodial centres across the state with essential basic needs.

He noted that across the custodial centres in the state were inmates with enormous potentials, which could be nurtured positively and prayed the governor to extend his goodwill towards the inmates of Cross River State Command.

The Controller said, “let me say a very big thank you to your Excellencies for making time to visit us. 99 percent 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.”

Highlights of the visit were donations of items such as food for inmates, toiletries and cash including presentation of star prices to inmates that won the various competitions.