Rochas Okorocha,
governor of Imo state, says he erects statues of African leaders to
preserve history which is “dying in Africa”.
Okorocha
said this in Owerri, Imo capital, shortly after unveiling the statue of
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, on Friday.
He
described the first female president in Africa as a pride to the continent
“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,” he said.
“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.”
On
her part, Sirleaf said the honour meant so much to her. She thanked Okorocha,
saying the gesture would go a long way to inspire women and girls.
“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.
“My
alma mater, Harvard University, honoured me with a statue but it was not like
this. There weren’t people like this and it was just a little one in a corner.”
The
Liberian leader was also conferred with a chieftaincy title.
Three weeks ago, Okorocha unveiled the statue of
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa. This sparked outrage but the governor
dismissed his critics, saying he had no apology.
Zuma’s
30-feet statue was said to have cost N520 million. It is not clear how much Imo
government spent on the artwork of Sirleaf.
- The Cable
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