2023: Rochas Okorocha joins presidential race
The immediate past governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has officially declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidency, with a promise to sustain Nigeria’s unity and ensure development.
While declaring his intention to run on Monday in Abuja, Okorocha said Nigeria needs a leader that can unite the people more and give everyone a sense of belonging, adding that he is the best man for the job.
Okorocha, who contested the country’s presidency in 2003, 2007 and 2015, currently represents Imo West Senatorial District on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former Imo governor said he had the ability and capacity to forge more unity among Nigerians, haven built schools for the less privileged with investments across the country’s geopolitical zones.
In his words, “Nigeria needs a compassionate leader that will listen to the needy, a leader that can give everyone a sense of belonging. If I say I will make Nigeria more united, believe me, I will do so.
“I challenge all those who want to become president of this country to show what they have done in unifying the nation.
“My signature is in all parts of Nigeria. I am not from Sokoto state, but my signature is in the state.
“I am not from Zaria, my signature is in Zaria. I am not from Kano state, my signature is in Kano. I am not from North Central, my signature is in Jos.
“I am not from North-East, my signature is in Adamawa and Bauchi. I’m not from South-West, but my signature is in Ibadan, Oyo state.
“I am not from South-South, my signature is in Cross River. If I tell Nigerians I will unite this country more, believe me, I can do that,” he said.
He added, “I have trained more than 5,000 Fulani children, 6,000 Yoruba and more than 10, 000 Igbos. I don’t know them. I don’t know their background; what connects us is poverty, because am once a child of poverty.
“Where poverty persists, ethnicity thrives, where poverty persists, blames become the order of the day. Nigerians are not enemies to one another.”
On zoning and rotation of the presidency to a particular zone in the country, Okorocha said he was not a candidate of rotation nor zoning, adding that he was a candidate of justice.
He, however, said there is a need for the South-East or the South to properly present their desire to have the presidency zoned to the region, before other Nigerians.
He said unity of the country should be emphasised rather than zoning, adding that for the sake of justice and equity, the Igbos deserved to produce the country’s next president in 2023.
He charged Nigerians of Igbo extraction to note that power was not given but taken, and appealed to the APC national leadership to ensure a level playing ground for all aspirants.
“I am qualified to run more than anybody who cares to run.
“I appeal to my party, the APC, to allow a level playing ground and Igbos must understand that power is not given, it is taken,” Okorocha said.
