Rochas campaigns for unity of Igbos and Yorubas in Nigeria

Governor Okorocha (left) addressing the people of South-Western Nigeria at Adamasingba stadium last Saturday (file photo)

Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has commenced a campaign for the unity of Igbos and Yoruba speaking states in Nigeria.

Speaking during his 51st birthday celebration which coincided with the graduation ceremony of Rochas Foundation School held at the Adamasingba Stadium, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State on Saturday, Governor Okorocha said he has joined hands with the Oyo State governor, Senator Ajimobi in building bridges across the divide of the South-East and the South-West.

Said he; “With my colleague the governor of Oyo State here, we are building a bridge of friendship across the South-East and the South-West. From today, we are one. Igbo and Yoruba should begin to see themselves as one.”

Speaking further at the event, Okorocha appealed to his fellow governors of All Progressives Congress (APC) extraction to accept thousands of his aides and supporters who have declared interest in joining the APC.

According to him, his supporters who make up a formidable group under the aegis of ‘Rochas Movement’, worked for him during his campaign for the presidential election in 2007 and have remained loyal to him ever since. Said he; “Rochas Movement has been with me since I contested for the position of president. They have never deserted me. They are dependable. One can count on their support. As I am presenting them to the APC, I am also telling them that this is my new party, the APC.

“I enjoin all the governors in the South-West to accept all these followers of mine into the APC fold,”

He noted that the students of Rochas Foundation were the reason for his existence, adding that life would become meaningless to him, if he ceased to help them.

“These students are the reason I am in existence. Life is meaningless to me, unless I am able to help the needy. If charity is what will make me poor, I declare right here that I am a poor man. Unitll I die, I will continue to give to the poor,” he said.

The carnival-like ceremony, which attracted the presence of top politicians and government functionaries from the South-West states and Imo State, was attended by thousands of Rochas Foundation members from all the states across the federation.

Also present at the event is the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Deputy governor of Osun State, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, who represented Governor Rauf Aregbesola; and the Chief of Staff to Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Mr Yemi Adaramodu, who stood in for the governor.