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Governor Okorocha has an excuse for erecting expensive statues, but nobody wants to talk about it

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has explained the reason for erecting the much-criticized statues of African leaders, describing it as a way of keeping history alive. History which, he says, is “dying in Africa”.

The Governor, despite coming under heavy criticism for erecting a statue of Jacob Zuma when the South African President visited the State last month, went a step further to unveil a statue of Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who also visit the State on Friday.

“I erect statue to immortalise people so that children yet unborn can know about them. History is dying in Africa, we must keep it alive.

“In the next 100 years, most of us would not be alive but this will stand for children to see. If leaders are not immortalised, there will be no history for children.”

The Governor also described the Liberian President as a pride to the continent.

In response, Sirleaf expressed gratitude to the Governor for the honour saying the way to bring unity to the continent is through education and hard work to help fight poverty.

“I have travelled to every part of the world and I have travelled all over Africa, I have never experienced something like this. I have seen leaders of Africa build schools, roads, give scholarships, and so on, in all of these things. I have not seen any of them go beyond the ordinary by gathering indigent children of Africa from all of our countries, bring them together in our family, sharing together, I thank you. There is no other better way to fight poverty and preach unity than this.”

“I am simply so filled with joy. i don’t know what to say. this is an honour that i have not received elsewhere. i have received so many things but this is quite exceptional,” she said.

Sirleaf was also conferred with a Chieftaincy title by the Chairman of the State’s Council of Traditional Rulers, Samuel Ohiri.

Governor Okorocha had stated that the Rochas Foundation was set up to foster unity in Africa and not to show affluence.

“What I do today is not a dramatisation of affluence as I am not amongst the richest in Africa, Rochas foundation is a dramatisation of sacrifice. This may as well be the Africa we are looking for, I do know that this institution will grow beyond me and my generation. This may be the beginning of the unity we all crave for in Africa. These children now see themselves as one family.”

Sirleaf, the first female African President have some wealth of achievements.

In 2016, she was named as 83rd-most powerful women in the world by Forbes and Times Magazine also named her among the top ten female leaders.

She was also jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.

Sirleaf also frowns at corruption in Liberia. She established the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission which sees to prosecuted corrupted officials.

In 2008, she dismissed Information Minister, Lawrence Bropleh, after it was alleged that he stole $200,000 of State funds for county development.

She also sacked her bother who was also the Minister of Internal affairs, Ambullai Johnson, for the disappearance of funds for County Development.

She later stated that her major financial reforms were obstructing her fight against corruption in the country.

The visit of Zuma and Sirleaf is to promote the Rochas Foundation College of Africa.

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