Ohanaeze Youths Back Okorocha on Zuma Statue

By Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu

Amidst barrage of criticisms that trailed last week’s erection of the statue of South African President, Jacob Zuma, in Owerri by Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, the Ohanaeze Youth Council, (OYC) yesterday rose in defence of the embattled governor.

In a statement by its National Vice Chairman, Obinna Achuonye, which was made available to journalists in Enugu, the Ohanaeze youth group said the governor deserved to be commended and not condemned.

It insisted that Okorocha did what several presidents could not do, let alone a governor.

The council said Okorocha should be commended for attracting President Zuma to Imo State to be highly celebrated, noting that such visit would foster bilateral relations between the state in particular as well as Nigeria  and South Africa.

“We are thanking the governor for bringing Zuma to Nigeria; he has shown capacity as an Igbo leader. 

“In future, we expect that he will bring other presidents to Igbo land; in the history of this country, no sitting governor has been able to bring a sitting president; it is a huge plus on his credentials. 

“We are enjoining other governors to follow his footsteps; they should open up the space for the world; it is an opportunity for Igbo land and Nigeria at large. 

“Okorocha is setting the pace for others to follow. We are certain that in the nearest future, this will bring development opportunities to Ndigbo.”

OYC stated that it was very glaring that those against Okorocha were doing so as a result of selfish motive and jealousy and not for any good of Nigerians.

 “If they think what Okorocha did is quite simple, why is it that no governor has done something closer to it? Governor Okorocha has shown serious leadership capacity in this country. 

“We laud him and ask that he should not be deterred by criticism. 

”The Ohanaeze Youths urge him to see that the expected outcome of Jacob Zuma’s visit are felt in every part of Igbo land. 

“We learnt of Zuma’s promised partnership to the Rochas Foundation. It is indeed a cheering news and we plead that the foundation should extend its work to all the nook and cranny of Igboland.”