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The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has kicked against erecting the statue of South African President, Jacob Zuma in Imo State by Gov. Rochas Okorocha.
The NANS National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Comrade Bestman Okereafor, criticized the move by Gov. Okorocha in a statement signed and made available in Enugu.
Okereafor said that considering the economic condition of Imo State and Nigeria at large, erecting a statue costing millions of naira should not be the priority of the state government.
“The leadership of the apex students’ governing body, NANS led by Comrade Aruna Kadiri, has kicked against the erection of a statue of South African President Jacob Zuma in Imo State.
“What positive impact or contribution has President Jacob Zuma done or brought to the good people of Imo State and Nigeria at large to deserve such statue?
“Why is the worthless statue coming at a time when Nigerians are been killed unnecessarily, and unjustly in South Africa?
“Wasn’t Jacob Zuma South African President during the xenophobic attacks on blacks and Nigerians inclusive? He asked.
The spokesman said that NANS was demanding prompt answers from the Imo State government to these burning questions as a matter of urgency.
He noted that it was on record that President Jacob Zuma had been a controversial politician who had involved himself in several legal scandals.
Okereafor, however, said that NANS was anticipating the erection of statue for our falling and living heroes who had helped the country positively in one way or the other.
He listed such heroes as the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, late Sir Tafawa Balewa and late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Okereafor also listed late Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, late Fela Kuti, late Floral Shaw, late Lord Fedrick Lugard, late Mary Slessor and late Nelson Mandela as worthy of such honour and not Zuma.
He said former President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Muhammed Buhari among several others also qualified to have their statues erected.