Zuma’s Statue: I Owe No One Apology – Okorocha

Governor Rochas Okorocha has said he owes no one apology for erecting the statue of South African President, Jacob Zuma in Imo State.

Okorocha, who came under heavy criticism for erecting the statue, said the move was to encourage business relationship between the South African government and the Heartland state.

The governor said Zuma’s visit to Imo was primarily for the South African President to sign an MoU between the Rochas Foundation College of Africa and Jacob Zuma Education Foundation.

He said both foundations had agreed to work to improve education in the state.

Okorcha blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for under-developing the state, while allegedly looting its coffers.

The governor said if erecting statues will attract meaningful personalities to Imo, residents of the should get ready to see more of such.

“If it was in the days of PDP, Schools and Markets would have been shot 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 governor said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo.

“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.

“And 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,” he said.