Zuma statue has Nigerians bemused

NIGERIAN civil society groups were flabbergasted after waking up to news of a statue of South African President Jacob Zuma being unveiled in their country at the weekend.

Rochas Okorocha – billionaire‚ education philanthropist and governor of Imo State – unveiled the bronze statue and named a street after Zuma during his two-day visit to Nigeria which concluded on Sunday.

An honorary title was also on Zuma.

According to the Presidency the visit to Nigeria was to “strengthen bestowed socio-economic relations and deepen cooperation in education”.

A traditional ruler conferred the title of chief of Ochiaga (warlord) on Zuma over the weekend.

According to Okechukwu Nwanguma‚ national coordinator of the civil society Network On Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN)‚ Nigerians were not informed about the statue.

According to Olanrewaju Suraju‚ chairperson of Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC)‚ it was reported that Zuma was in Nigeria on a “private” two-day visit.

Nwanguma said the statue was commissioned despite allegations government workers and pensioners have not been paid for months.

The Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed a bid by Zuma to appeal a previous ruling that he could still face 783 counts of criminal charges relating to corruption‚ fraud and racketeering.

Suraju believes Zuma was not hosted in Abuja‚ because it would have raised questions about President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption policies.

“All the same the federal government should have called Governor Okorocha to order and advise him not to celebrate corruption.” — DDC