By Ken Afor
Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, has denied reports suggesting that he visited Kuje prison to see embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Moses Olafare, the spokesperson for the monarch, said that Oba Ogunwusi had gone to the correctional facility on behalf of Queen Temitope’s Non-Governmental Organisation, Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI), which is working hard to bring about positive change to the centre.
This trails reports that the monarch had visited Emefiele seeking for his release from detention.
Speaking to the Vanguard, Olafare said, the Ooni participated in the programme, which sought to provide hope to prisoners regarding their return to society upon the completion of their sentences, to mark his eighth anniversary of ascension to the throne. This event was organized in collaboration with Kuje correctional authority.
Olafare said, “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 inmates that, after serving out their terms, they still have hope to reintegrate 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 inmates 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.”
