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By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
A few days to his 47th birthday anniversary, a lawmaker representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Comrade Chinedu Ogah on Wednesday distributed over 150 million naira worth of relief materials to inmates, orphans, poor artisans, patients and other depressed people in their various custodian areas in Ebonyi State.
Ogah while distributing the relief materials to the depressed people also disclosed that he was once an inmate of the Nigeria Correctional Centre for an offence he did not know of it.
Ogah said he distributed the relief materials including food items, clothes, toiletries, and sewing machines, among other valuables worth over 150 million Naira to encourage the depressed people in the state.
He said, "I am here to encourage you not to be depressed but to forgive. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in prison and when he was released, he became the President of Nigeria. Nelson Mandela was in prison for many years and came out to become the President of South Africa.
"So, most of the great leaders you know today were once in prison. I was here for an offence I don’t know, but when I came out, I became a great personality in society. It is good to have a history, you need to change to become a great person, just tell yourself the truth and work for a better future," Ogah professed.
The distribution of the relief materials to the less privileged people by Ogah was part of the activities lined up to mark his 47th birthday celebration on Sunday, July 2nd, 2023.
The lawmaker visited orphanage homes, artisans, and inmates in Abakaliki and Afikpo Correctional Centers in Ebonyi State. Ogah who was accompanied by his numerous admirers, elders, youths and supporters on Wednesday; equally visited the Yoruba, Hausa and Fulani communities to celebrate his birthday and his second tenure victory as a member of the Federal House of Representatives.
He began the visitation from the artisan workers' quarters opposite Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium to Old People's Home, after which he visited Orphanage home in Nsugbe Street in Abakaliki, where he equally marked his birthday with the less privileged ones.
In his diverse speeches, the lawmaker encouraged the destitute, inmates and others never to lose hope as it is not a place of punishment but a place of corrections. He appreciated them for voting for candidates of the All Progressives Congress party (APC) including President Bola Tinubu, as well as Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State and himself to represent the good people of Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency for the second time.
Advising the inmates and other less privileged ones further, Ogah said, “All of you should know that being here does not mean that your own has finished, it is a moment of trial, and it is for you to redefine your future. I was once here for six months for an offence I don’t know, but when I came out of here, I learned a lot of things, I made new friends, and this place made me understand different kinds of offences."
He emphasized the need for peace and unity among the people of all tribes, to foster development and progress in the society.
The Comptroller, of Nigeria Correctional Service in Ebonyi State, Mr Anthony Chigbata (Abakaliki), Mr Stephen Aneke (Afikpo), and the Vice Chairman Hausa Community, Alhaji Idris Deti, thanked the Nigerian government for the reformation presently witnessed in the correctional centres in the country. They commended the Ebonyi Federal lawmaker, Ogah for always remembering the inmates, Yoruba, Hausa communities and others in the state.
The beneficiaries and residents of the State during the event were hailing Ogah's philanthropic gestures. They described him as the only leader from Ebonyi State who celebrates with them annually and however, promised to continue to support and pray for his greater elevation in public office for the surplus windfalls while rendering services to humanity.
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