The Controversy over Zuma Statute in Imo State

The statute of the president of South Africa in Imo State erected by the state Governor, Mr. Rochas Okorocha has continued to stir dust in Imo State and Nigeria, Yet, the governor decided to ignore the feelings of the people that joyfully elected him to power.

If it was just the naming of a road after Zuma and giving him a traditional title, it would have been a lighter subject to deal with; but to spend almost half a billion naira to honour a president who is facing serious charges of corruption in his own country is an abuse of office.

What was his reason for this honour? To encourage business relationship and attract business in Imo State was his alleged reason. And what was this business all about? To sign a memorandum of understanding between the Jacob Zuma Educational Foundation and the Rochas Foundation College of Africa, a private educational foundation of the governor; was the so called business. What a selfish business deal to the detriment of those who elected him to office. Why should the private visit of a foreign leader be given such a lavish memorial, and why the president of a country where Nigeria has been at the receiving end of xenophobia attack?

This is the governor of a state where workers are owed salaries and a governor who deemed it right to demolish the market where many of his citizens depend on for livelihood. What pains the most is that the governor blatantly ignored and lashed at his critics; those who entrusted their lives and assets in his hands when they voted him into power; as if they have no say in the matter concerning their collective resources.

The problem here is not the honour accorded a great man from South Africa. The issue here is that such honour should be earned or deserved, and should not be at the expense of poor citizens. For such an honour to be given, there must be a genuine reason. There is no evidence that President Zuma has done anything for Imo People.

Is it not yet time for the church to stand out and judge evil? Is the church waiting for every one of us to die spiritual deaths before they demonstrate the power of God in this generation? Has the church eaten what they are not supposed to eat from the so called politicians that made them seal their moths to the truth? Has the church not slept enough? People are suffering and our leaders think of nothing, and do nothing other than abuse their political offices and squander peoples resources on frivolities, yet our church leaders only pray and treat the matter on the pulpit. Our today’s carnivorous politicians need messages directed to them personally from highly placed men of God, not general messages that address no one in particular. If prayer and pulpit talk are enough to solve the problems, then why is it that the more we pray and preach, the more our leaders embezzle public funds and the more youths and poor masses take to crimes? Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, etc during their own time, did not only pray but also demonstrated God’s judgment upon the then leaders. The political atmosphere in Nigeria today is so tense and does not call for a gentle approach. Our leaders want everybody to remain calm as they perpetrate evil. If we all continue to keep quiet, expecting a change, then this madness will soon become a culture that will be difficult to abolish in the future, and maybe, by then bush meat will not satisfy them but human flesh.

Everybody cannot be a governor and everybody cannot be a president. The same goes for other state and national positions of power. Imo people and Nigerians are not fools to have voted their people into positions of power. All we want are responsible leaders that will manage the resources given to them well, in the best interest of their citizens, and not selfish leaders who have hard copies of good and wonderful promises, who will match into their seats of power with soft copies of their personal and destructive agenda.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi