The former Commissioner for Works and Transport and Director General, Women Support for Youth Project, Chief Mrs. Josephine Udorji, has berated the detractors of the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, urging them to have a rethink and support the Governor to attract more foreign investors to develop the state.
Chief Mrs. Udorji gave the advices in Owerri while reacting to scathing remarks against the Governor’s erreation of a statue of the South African President as what she described as some frivolous and unfounded falsehood publications in some Imo based newspapers by some hirelings of the opposition party against the visit of the President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma recently.
Udorji while reacting to the scathing remarks by the opposition descended heavily on those propelling the negative criticisms against the visit, statue and chieftaincy title conferred on him by the Imo state Council of Traditional Rulers Chairman, HRM Eze Samuel Ohiri as Ochiagha of Igbo land to the South African President, Jacob Zuma, as people of low morale with the singular intention to keep the state in the dark whereas, Governor Okorocha is a light that has conquered the darkness which has befallen Imo state in the past.
She maintained that “instead of giving the governor the necessary support to enable him attract more meaningful development to the state, the perceived political opponents of Okorocha and seeming state detractors are eager in their action of pull him down”. She envisaged that the negative action to the opposition would not deter the Governor from his good intention and passion to develop the state.
According to her, the recent visit of the President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma and Ghanaian President John Akufo Ado, has not only placed Imo higher but has proved that the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, is a man with foresight, who if given an opportunity to become the President of Nigeria would ensure that Nigeria remains the fulcrum and centre piece of African foreign policy as well help to make African continent a one united and indivisible peaceful entity.
In her words, “the wrong and unassuming quotation of the amount of money used to build the statue by the uninformed elements without consulting the Sculptural Artists that erected the structure is not only meant to sabotage but also to incite Imo people against Governor Okorocha who has done so well in Imo state”. Moreover, the statues at the Imo state hall of fame centre are not only that of President Zuma but others including some statues of Igbo eminent personalities such as the former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme whose recognition in the state does not attract any applause as the only state in the South East to honour one of theirs.
It could be recalled that President Jacob Zuma was amongst the few South African freedom fighters alongside Nelson Mandela who also spent 10 years in the prison in his struggle to liberate the blacks in South Africa. His visit to Imo state is significant and historical and as such will lift the economic base of the state with South African companies taking over the management of Imo International Cargo Airport as well as helping to actualize the Governor’s vision in ensuring qualitative free education to indigent and vulnerable children across African continent through the partnership of Rochas foundation college of Africa and Zuma foundation, respectively.
She queried on the rationale behind the clamouring over statue as a meaningless agitation and a strategy to draw unnecessary sympathy ahead of 2019 general election. “Whereas, Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has done well in the area of free education, prompt payment of teacher’s salary, donation of free academic learning materials, payment of stipends to Imo school pupils as well as equal distributions of dividends of democracy to Imo people including off-loading the back log of pension arrears owed by the previous administration”, she wonders why the critics have not admitted these rare achievements by commending Okorocha.
She therefore advised Imo people not to give ear to such rumours orchestrated by those she regarded as unscrupulous elements who never meant well to the state but should be eager to continue to support the Governor who in his magnanimity has done well to uplift their living standard.
