By Harry Awurumibe
Former Governor of Imo State and serving senator, Owelle Rochas Ethelbert Anayo Okorocha has thrown his hat in the ring for the 2023 Presidency, saying that he is the candidate to beat in the General Election.
This is even as he declared that a “New Nigeria” is possible if Nigerians from the six geopolitical zones elect him as the next President of Nigeria in 2023 just as he promised to introduce free education for Nigerian children from primary to secondary levels.
Senator Okorocha who spoke on Monday at a World Press Conference to announce his intention to run for the Presidency in 2024 held at the Executive Wing of International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja, disclosed that his desire to run for the highest office in Nigeria is to replicate the achievements he has made in every facet of life.
According to him he wants to eradicate poverty, illiteracy and bad governance in Nigeria, pointing out that he does not believe that Nigeria is the world’s poverty capital.
Speaking to the crowded hall of his supporters, associates, the clergy and members of the diplomatic corps as well as local and international journalists especially members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, Okorocha said he wants to run for the Presidency of Nigeria because he is a Nigerian.
Said he: “I am running not because I want to run, I am running because I am a Nigerian and I am a Nigerian not because am born in Nigeria. I am a Nigerian not because am born black, I am Nigerian not because I am an Igbo man, I am a Nigerian because the blood that runs through my veins is a Nigerian blood”.
“Therefore I say to you today. My Bible tells me that: “out of the abundance of heart the mouth speaks”. You must permit me at this moment to speak to you all from my heart, without a speech, to speak without prepared text because I want to poor out my heart to my nation. And I want all of you to hear me and hear me well and to feel me, because I want the entire nation to know where am coming from, where am going to and why I want to do what I am about to do here today”
Speaking further he said: “I speak to you again with a New Nigerian Spirit. I speak to you with this unique spirit, a new spirit completely…
The spirit is high because it dispices anything mean and small and does not help mankind”.
Going down the memory lane, Okorocha said: “My heart is full of mixed feelings. One side of me joy
and another side my heart bleeds. 20 years ago I ran for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because of my passion and vision to make great my nation”.
“That I did not succeed. Six years later I again ran for the same office, an election that saw me come second to the late former President Umaru Yar’Adua…
Again, in 2014 on the platform of APC I ran for the Office of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria which ushered in our dear President Muhammadu Buhari.
Then friends and relations beseech me with questions why the cannot understand why have continuously participated in politics despite the negatives associated with politics”.
The former Imo state Governor however said he is in politics for what he can offer the people and not what he get out of politics, adding that he is not satisfied with how the country has been managed hence he is offering himself to serve.
Said he: “I am not satisfied with the figure of 14.3 million out of school children in Nigeria. I am not satisfied that Nigerians can no longer go to bed with their eyes closed because of insecurity in the land. I am not satisfied as long as poverty is the order of the day and Nigerians go hungry looking for food to eat in this great nation. I am not satisfied.
And worst of it all, nations have tagged us as the poverty capital of the world. I disagree….
The truth is that we are a great nation. We are a blessed nation. God has blessed us with abundant human and natural resources…”.
Okorocha also said help has come for Nigerians as he will drive the “New Nigeria” where every Nigerian will be proud to be a Nigerian.
He said the “New Nigeria” he is envisioning will give roles to traditional rulers just as the judiciary will get a new lease of life while the legislative arm will be re-calibrated, pointing out that the youths will be the bedrock of his administration.
Meanwhile, the Presidential hopeful insists that the mood of the nation at present calls for a leader who will give every Nigerian a sense of belonging, adding that he is that unifier Nigerians need so much to repair a broken country.
Said he: ” If I say I will unify Nigerians I will do It, believe me because I have already done it because there is no part of Nigeria or zone you will go without seeing Rochas signature, Rochas Foundation Schools. I am not from Sokoto state but my signature is there. I am not from North East or West but my signature is in Zaria and Adamawa. I am not from South West or South South but my signature is in Oyo and Cross River states.
“So when I tell Nigerians I will unite this country believe me because I have done that in the past. And I challenge all those warming up to contest the Office of the President with me to show Nigerians what they have done in the country not I will when I become President”.
Also said the mood of the nation now requires a compassionate leader who will look at the plights of the weak and the needy and show concern.
On his chances to clinch the ticket of his ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to contest the 2023 Presidential Election, Okorocha said if there are other candidates other from the South East geopolitical zone of the country, they should drop their ambition for the sake of equity and justice.
Said he: ” If any aspirant come from any other zone aside the South East, what they are telling the South Easterners is that they are not part of this country called Nigeria. Anyone who believes in the unity and progress of Nigeria should not contest the 2023 Presidency with the South East”.
