Zuma statue up in Nigeria
President says he is leaving country a hero
Nigerian civil society groups were flabbergasted after waking up to a statue of President Jacob Zuma that was unveiled at the weekend.
Billionaire, education philanthropist and Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha unveiled the bronze statue, named a street and bestowed an honorary title on Zuma during his two-day visit to Nigeria which ended on Sunday.
According to the Presidency, the visit to Nigeria was to “strengthen socioeconomic relations and deepen cooperation in education.”
A traditional ruler conferred the title of chief of Ochiaga (warlord) on Zuma at the weekend.
Zuma said he was at a loss for words after receiving the title. “I walked in here, as I say, as an ordinary freedom fighter. I’m leaving Nigeria, through the state of Imo, as a hero. What a decoration.”
Okechukwu Nwanguma, national coordinator of civil society group Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (Noprin), said Nigerians were not informed about the statue. “We just woke up to news of the unveiling of the statue.”
Olanrewaju Suraju, chairperson of Civil Society Network against Corruption (CSNAC), said it was reported that Zuma was in Nigeria on a “private” two-day visit.
“We thought the embattled South African leader was here for a short vacation.”
Nwanguma said the statue was commissioned despite allegations that government workers and pensioners have not being paid for months.
“What message has he [Okorocha] sent out to the younger generation? Glorification of corruption!”
The Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed a bid by Zuma to appeal a previous ruling that he could 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 anticorruption policies.
“All the same the federal government should have called governor Okorocha to order and advised him not to celebrate corruption.”
Vaughan Babarotimi, a Nigerian businessman living in SA for 16 years, said the decision for the statue was strange as Zuma had no strong connection with the country to be honoured that way. “He was never ever in exile in Nigeria... there has to be clear-cut reasons why did this happen.”
Adetunji Omotola, founder of the Guild of Nigerian Professionals, said: “The statue came as a surprise, in fact it’s a PR disaster which comes at a time while we are also reeling from the news of a Nigerian killed in Vanderbjilpark allegedly [by SA] police.”
‘‘ What message is being sent out … Glorification of corruption!