Imo Gov. Rochas Okorocha has said the statue of the ousted South African President Jacob Zuma his administration stands no matter what happened in the Rainbow Nation.
Okorocha has erected no fewer than seven statues erected in Owerri, the state capital.
The government argued that the statue was erected when Zuma was the president of South Africa.
A press release signed by Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeudo on Friday stated that Zuma resigned honourably, indicating the ANC leader deserved some honour.
“And after his coming to Imo where he spoke against the killings of Nigerians in South Africa, the situation came under control to a large extent.
“Zuma came to Imo to partner with the Rochas Foundation College for Africa. He didn’t come for politics. And even after his departure as president, he would still go ahead to make his contributions to the education of the less privileged children in Africa.”
Okorocha was criticised by many who saw the expenses incurred erecting statues of foreigners in state as a waste of money.
Apart from Zuma’s, there are images of Liberia’s ex-President Johnson Sirleaf, and Ghanaian President John Ata Mills.