The Convener, Hope Alive Initiative for Africa, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has made it clear that his visit to the Medium Security Custodial Centres in Kuje, the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had no link with the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele who is being detained there.
His spokesperson, Moses Olafare, in a statement, said that the visit was in commemoration of the Ooni’s 8th year Anniversary on the throne of his fathers.
Speaking against the background of reports in a section of the media, the spokesman said that Ooni of Ife was not at the prison to visit Godwin Emefiele, saying: “The intent of those spreading the news was to blackmail the monarch.
“There is nothing hidden about the event. In any case, the king never met Emefiale because it was an official event organised by the NGO in conjunction with the Kuje Correction Centre.
“The programme centres around giving hope to the inmate that, after serving out their terms, they still have hope to reintegrate back to the society. The Arole Ooni was invited to chair the event in commemoration of his eighth anniversary on the throne.
“What is exclusive about a public programme where different public figures spoke and representatives of the inmate also spoke? How then did the Ooni manage to meet Emefiele?
“We must be careful with how people spread falsehoods about people. The video of the event is available to the public. I am not even sure Emefiele attended the programme because he is only in detention and not an inmate yet, so why link the programme to Emefiele? It is simply to achieve blackmail.”
Source: VANGUARD.
