Okorocha has become an embarrassment

A civil society organisation, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), Sunday severely

criticized the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, for his lavish hosting of the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, which included the unveiling of Zuma’s statue.

In a statement posted on the Facebook page of its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraji, the group condemned Okorocha for unveiling a “giant” statue of the South African president “in a conspicuous place in Owerri.”

CSNAC noted that Zuma had been indicted for corruption in South Africa, expressing their displeasure at the treatment given to him by Okorocha. It described the governor’s gesture as an embarrassment to the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose mantra is anti-corruption.

The group said it was particularly angered that Okorocha allowed Zuma to address a group of secondary school students and other young people in the state.

It wondered whether by so doing, Okorocha was celebrating corruption, since “Zuma has been found guilty of corruption by the 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 Imo State government, is Governor Okorocha not aware that the people of South Africa are currently demanding the resignation of a leader who has 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?

“Of what significance and benefit is the visit of Zuma to the people of Imo state? Where was Mrs. Okorocha who has been fighting for the rights of women when a man who was technically discharged by a court in a case of rape was celebrated and honoured by her husband?

“Though, he admitted that his victim consented to the sexual intercourse did he not say that he did not use a condom? Is the Imo state government encouraging youths to follow the bad examples of President Zuma?”

There have been widespread critical reactions from around the country and on social media following the unveiling of Zuma’s statue by Okorocha, with many expressing shock and anger at what they termed a wasteful and shameful exercise honouring a personality of questionable character at a time Nigerians were being targeted by South African police with no visible response from the Zuma-led government.

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