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From Ogu Gbuaja, Owerri
Few days after South African President, Jacob Zuma, paid a two-day visit to Imo State (last weekend), scores of Imo people and South Africans have continued to criticize the action of the Imo State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha to erect and unveil the South African leader’s bronze statue.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that the controversial statue was erected at a high brow area at Ikemba Ojukwu Centre axis of Owerri capital city, at an estimated cost of N520 million.
Those who spoke on the issue wondered why a state that is paying workers 70 percent of their salaries, and yet to pay over 30 months arrears of pensions among the myriad of liabilities, should embark on such ‘wasteful venture’ for a President that has over 800 corruption charges pending in the South African courts.
They, however, urged the governor to quickly apologize and demolish the statue.
Sources close to the state government confided in TheNewsGuru.com that about seven of such statues of yet-to-be unearthed persons have been erected waiting to be unveiled by the governor.
However, despite the public outcry, the governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, said he owed nobody an apology for erecting the statue.
He opined that those accusing the governor are his political opponents who did not see any good future dividends that would be recorded as a result of the visit, the statue and road named after Zuma, including a chieftaincy title of ‘Ochiagha Imo State’ (War commander), conferred by the monarchs in Imo at the palace of the chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers in the state, Eze Sam Ohiri, at Mbari Street, Owerri.
Many persons, including Imo civil and public servants and retirees, who spoke on the issue on Thursday, condemned the governor for taking such sole initiative.
The critics include a former aide to Okorocha and former member who represented Owerri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Uche Onyeaguocha; other social critics as Elder Mathew Okorie, Engr. Ikechukwu Obodo, Chika from Mbieri, Mbaitoli, Friday Ekpo, Da Maraokwe, from Uzoagba Ikeduru, Pastors Chinedu and Elija Iwuchukwu, and Victor Ugochukwu Nwosu; and Alloysiuos Ibeakor, from Ibeasiegbe.
Onyeaguocha, likened Okorocha working in tandem with Zuma, as alleged corrupt persons to milk Imo dry more, urging the South African leader to quickly go back to his country and face corruption charges hanging on his nake.
Ibeakor, said: ”Though we cannot condemn him, Okorocha, outright, I would advise the governor to retract that statement. ”
Iwuchukwu said: ”We demand apology from him. We are not against the governor honouring or welcoming anyone, but the size of money to built such a thing. If that statement is credited to him, it means that the governor I’d greater than Imo people who voted for him.”
In his comment, Maraokwe posited: ”He owes no one apology, but one day he will owe apology to God.”
Nwosu, noted: ”He (Okorocha), should listen to the masses.”
China said: ”Our governor has seen himself as demigod, ascribing himself as God is wrong. If a man does anything without recourse to those who voted him.”
Tony remarked: ”A tree does not make a forest. That assertion has been proved wrong that a tree has made a forest. Somebody voted for him. I believe God is watching and a day of reckoning is coming.”
Okorie, in his submission, said: ”It is wrong for Okorocha to say he owes no one an apology. He should not be Eze Onyeagwalam (King to says no one should tell me). I am not speaking for any political party, APC, PDP, APGA or anyone.”
Obodo, opined: ”President Zuma has not contributed anything to the development of Imo State. This is a state where workers, pensioners and masses are crying and this man is honoured. Sam Mbakwe of blessed memory has not been honoured. It is wrong. It is wasteful. What had Zuma done to Imo State that he should be built a statue and name a road after him? He should apologize to Imolites and remove that statue. Men should learn to control their libido. I think that man should be punished for that offence he has committed.”
In tweets, some South African residents, Leo Barriers Barnard and Phiri James Gordon, said they were saddened by the honour.
Gordon said: ”The most corrupt country in the world honours one of their own.”
Bernard noted: ”Why don’t they just take Zuma? We will donate him to Nigeria with a year’s supply of pap in vleis…
Muzi Nsibande: ”The most corrupt president in the African continent is honoured with a bronze statue in one of African’s most corrupt country Nigeria.”
Charles Ernest Doller, twitted: ”Too many drugs that killing our South Africa and shame on Zuma for his honour with his corruption 782 or maybe more during 2017.”