Governor Okorocha, President Zuma and the statue – an empirical summary

Governor Okorocha, President Zuma, and the statue – But has Nigerians actually tried to brainstorm on other ways to benefit from Imo State and S. Africa’s new relationship?

South Africa may have nothing to lose; but Ndi Igbo and Imo State stands to gain in any diplomatic relationship between these two entities.

Anthony Obi Ogbo | Publisher Analysis

Most Nigerians are still trading words in thorough controversy over a large bronze statue of President Jacob Zuma, unveiled in Nigeria’s Imo State in his recent visit. But Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State, defended his actions or approach as a strategy to encourage a favorable business relationship between his state and South Africa. President Zuma was actually in the state to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, between the Jacob Zuma Educational Foundation and Rochas Foundation College of Africa.

President Zuma’s regime no doubt witnessed a rise in xenophobic violence in South Africa where Nigeria citizens suffered most, but the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari and his regime equally, may have failed in their responsibility to respond with corresponding diplomatic reciprocity. Notwithstanding these dark moments, South Africa, still remain hosts of thousands of Nigerian  businesses and an overwhelming population of Nigerian residents who are mostly of Igbo ethnicity.

But rather than the prevalent bombardment of Governor Okorocha with spiteful expletives, for honoring  Jacob Zuma; have critics tried to brainstorm on other ways to benefit from this IMO STATE and S. AFRICA’S relationship?

It was gathered that as an outcome of this visit, President Zuma has approved setting up a consulate in Owerri, which would in fact ease travel and visa processes, and boost commerce activities between Eastern Nigeria and South Africa. Business owners in South Africa – majority from Imo State also claim President Zuma’s approval of an official payment center in Imo State would help, not only to boost their businesses, but also enlarge Imo State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Be it through a Statue or Chieftaincy title, any diplomatic bond between these entities could be used as an ambassadorial instrument to NEGOTIATE the protection of thousands of Nigerian businesses and investments in South Africa estimated at millions of dollars. Pragmatically, we must acknowledge the basic reality, that South Africa might have  nothing to lose; but ‘Ndi Igbo’, Imo State, and indeed Nigerians have much to gain in any diplomatic relationship between these two entities.

Unfortunately, in Nigeria, politics is NOTHING but a two-way traffic, where policies or leaders are either HATED or LIKED. Policies are hardly, neither negotiated nor reassessed to supplement the moment. Yet, until Nigerian citizens, especially eligible voters learn how to utilize politics to their communal benefits; how to elect leaders who would serve their interests rather than represent them  as tribesmen – they would equally remain as fruitless as their leadership in creating substantial path toward matters of  national development.

Facilitator of American Journal of Transformational Leadership, Publisher Dr. Anthony Obi Ogbo is also the author of Influence of Leadership

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