A former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has expressed displeasure over the continued killings by terrorists and other security challenges facing the country. He called on the perpetrators to stop and give peace a chance.
He, therefore, charged Nigerians to support the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and embrace dialogue in addressing all grievances.
According to him, although everyone has enough reasons to demand the breakdown of Nigeria, the only way to actualize the collective dream is to foster peace and unity.
Okorocha, representing Imo West Senatorial District in the National Assembly stated this during one of the activities organized to mark his 59 birthday anniversary with the theme: ‘Rochas @ 59: Peaceful Co-existence’, which ended on Sunday night.
Dignitaries at the event included the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje; and Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade.
Others were Kebbi State governor, Atiku Bagudu; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and Ambassadors of North Korea, China and Israel, Ministers, Senators.
He said, “My heart bleeds with the killing of countless Nigerians; the bloodbath in the country is worrisome but it is not over with Nigeria yet as there are better days are ahead.
“I am dedicating this birthday to a united Nigeria, I beg you to pray and support Buhari’s administration to tackle insecurity and restore peace in Nigeria. I plead with the clergymen to use the pulpit to preach for the unity of Nigeria. I have enough reason to want the country to break down but this is a time to work for the peace and unity of our dear country.
“I pray for peace to reign among Nigerians, irrespective of the tribe or religion, it is time to come together to defeat this evil, we must remain together as one indivisible nation to make progress”.
The Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, in his remarks, lauded Okorocha’s philanthropy gestures, adding that he had attained significance through his free education programme for indigent Nigerians and Africans.
He said, “Significance comes to a man or woman when you take up an assignment that can shape the destinies of others; spending your own resources. Not just by making one donation, but committing your whole life to the enterprise; that is how to attain significance.
“Okorocha, at the age of 37, started the Rochas Foundation, which now has 21 tuition-free schools across 12 states in Nigeria. This includes the Rochas Foundation College of Africa, which has children from 31 African countries, who are orphans or underprivileged in some way.’’
The Vice-President said that a man could have thousands of children all over the world as Okorocha had but the burden of caring for them and the man himself lied on a patient and kind-hearted wife.
The VP said, “She started the She Needs a Roof Project that builds comfortable houses for poor women, especially widows and she has built scores of decent houses for them.
“But what is even more remarkable is that the young Okorochas are following the excellent example of their father and mother. All are involved in consequential philanthropic activities”.
