Imo State governor, Rochas Owelle Okorocha has come under heavy
attacks for erecting the statue of President Jacob Zuma of South Africa
in the state.
Okorocha during the weekend erected a statue in honour of Zuma, after playing host to him in the ‘eastern heartland.”
Reacting to the development, a civil society organisation, the Civil
Society Network Against Corruption, condemned Okorocha for not only
directing an Imo monarch to confer a traditional title on Zuma but also
unveiling a “giant” statue of the South African leader “in a conspicuous
place in Owerri.”
The group, in a statement by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, noted
that it was wrong of Okorocha to honour Zuma who had been indicted for
corruption in South Africa in that manner.
It also expressed strong displeasure at the heroic treatment given to
him by Okorocha, describing the governor’s gesture as an embarrassment
to the All Progressives Congress, which was fighting corruption.
It wondered whether by so doing Okorocha was celebrating corruption,
since “Zuma has been found guilty of corruption by courts in South
Africa and has been ordered to refund the $500,000.00 stolen from the
public treasury to expand his private house to accommodate his many
wives.”
CSNAC said, “Is Governor Okorocha not aware that Mr. Zuma has also
been indicted for allowing an Indian family to influence the appointment
of his cabinet members?”
“In asking President Zuma to address officials of the Imo State
Government, is Governor Okorocha not aware that the people of South
Africa are currently demanding the resignation of a leader who has
allegedly brought shame and dishonour to the country of Nelson Mandela?
“Is the APC governor not aware that South Africans are marching on
the streets to demand ‘Zuma Must Go’ over his corrupt practices?”
Similarly, a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has lashed out at Okorocha, for erecting the statue.