NANS Kicks Against Erection of President Zuma’s Giant Statue in Owerri

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, October 17th, 2017

Photo: South African President, Jacob Zuma

From Ignatius Okpara

ENUGU, NIGERIA, (AFRICAN EXAMINER) -The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has joined other groups in criticising the erection of statue of South African President, Jacob Zuma in Owerri, the Imo State capital by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

National Public Relations Officer (PRO), of the body, Comrade Bestman Okereafor, condemned the development in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Enugu Tuesday.

The NANS Spokesman said 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.

He said: “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? the association asked.

According to him, 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 Zuma had been a controversial politician who had involved himself in several scandals.

Okereafor, however, said that NANS was anticipating the erection of statue for the fallen 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 disclosed that former President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Muhammed Buhari among several others also qualified to have their statues erected.