Zuma’s Staue: Okorocha slams critics, says erecting statues would attract investors

Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, has lashed back at critics who condemned his launching of a statue in honour of South African president, Jacob Zuma, describing them as “enemies of his people”.

The governor also declared that he would erect more if as long as it benefits his state.

Okorocha received huge condemnation from Nigerians, over his building of the N520 million statue.

While some condemned the gesture as waste of funds, others noted that it was an inappropriate endorsement, considering President Zuma is facing charges of corruption allegations, and is incapable of tackling xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in his country.

Unapologetic Okorocha, in a statement released by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, on Tuesday, argued that the statue was part of his administration’s plans to attract meaningful investors that would contribute to the development of the state.

Okorocha  said, “In case these ‘Galatians’ do not know, if all we need to do to attract good things or investments to Imo is erecting statues, then, we have no option than to erect as many of such structures as possible. We owe no one apology.

“Rochas made a promise to open the doors of Imo to the rest of the world for good and he is doing that and we cannot be deterred by these enemies of our people.”

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Okorocha, criticised the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for not having as much achievements as he does, regarding attracting meaningful visitors like President Zuma.

“If it was in the days of PDP, schools and markets would have been shut down. And roads closed because President Zuma was coming. But none of such things was done because Rochas and his government have human face.

“The PDP for the 12 years they held sway never attracted any meaningful visitor to the state except PDP NEC members who were coming to loot the state,” he said.

Okorocha went on to explain that the president’s visit was part of plans to sign a Memorandum of Understand (MoU) between the Jacob Zuma Education Foundation and Rochas Foundation College of Africa.