Nigerians have taken to the social media to criticise Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State, over the unveiling of a statue of Jacob Zuma, President South Africa.
Zuma, who is not having the best of times in his political party, the African National Congress (ANC), back home over allegations of corruption and abuse of office, has been in Owerri, the Imo State capital, since Friday.
The unveiling ceremony was only one of the many honours conferred on Zuma by Okorocha and witnessed by Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria.
He was also given the Imo Merit Award, the highest award in the state, which is usually given to honour persons who have distinguished themselves in various fields of human endeavour.
A chieftaincy title, Ochiagha di oha mma of Igbo Land (meaning The People’s Warlord) was also conferred on Zuma, and a street was also named after him.
Twitter users who reacted to the development wondered what Zuma had done for Imo State or Nigeria to merit such honour.
Some noted that despite Nigeria’s role in ending apartheid regime in South Africa, Nigerians are still being killed in the country on a regular basis, and Zuma had done nothing to check the disturbing trend.
Here are some photos of the events and reactions from various Twitter users:
.@SAPresident statue unveiled in Imo State by Rochas Okorocha. I predict the inappropriate dung will get knocked down within a year. pic.twitter.com/c66OyeEyIw
— Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) October 14, 2017
D painful part about Okorocha’s statue of Jacob Zuma: the statue is bigger than Okorocha’s birthday cake. #MonkeyPoxLeadership!
— Pius Adesanmi (@pius_adesanmi) October 14, 2017
Gov Rochas just erected a humongous statue of Jacob Zuma in Imo.
What next?? Name a Stadium or Airport after Robert Mugabe?? pic.twitter.com/LoET7JrakR— PRESIDENT OKONKWO (@IkechuQwu) October 15, 2017
To be very honest, Okorocha is a curse. Statue of Jacob Zuma in Owerri? Oh Lord!!!????
— nekar (@nekkie_u) October 14, 2017
Nigeria that fought & won freedom 4 SA hasn’t been honoured with a statue of any Nig leader in SA instead by serial murdering of Nigerians
— Ezeh Gabriel (@dr_ezeh) October 14, 2017
Is there even a mini statute of Zuma anywhere in SA? Rochas is smoking some expired weed, I can tell.
— JOHNSON A E (@SOLAJOHNSON) October 14, 2017
Like someone earlier said, whom the gods will destroy, they first make mad. In other words, Rochas is mad
— Anazodo Godwin Eche (@Anazodoeche) October 15, 2017
SA are killing Nigerians, @GovernorRochas is immortalizing @SApresident who is under serial investigation for Corruption at home, what for?
— Engr Obude (@EngrObude) October 15, 2017
I thought cutting through 27 birthday cakes was the peak!!!
Can’t wrap my head around the need for immolating Zuma with a statue ????
— Adebayo Salami (@Le_Stylo) October 15, 2017
@GovernorRochas saying Thank you to the @SAPresident for helping him murder his Igbo brothers in SA. If u don’t kill them for me, Who will ????
— Fashola Oladayo (@yungfirelord) October 14, 2017
Only an APC govt will invite a Zuma to Nigeria and have a statue erected to immortalize corruption
— Abum Onye Igbo (@princelypeople) October 15, 2017
He bagged a chieftaincy title and now Gov. Rochas raised a statue of President Zuma. Zuma of all people. Same Zuma of that same S/Africa????????????????
— El-Hajj (@ziliyax) October 15, 2017
And I couldn’t see Jacob Zuma’s statue anywhere in South Africa. Only in Imo State. ????????????
— Ugonna John Bosco (@ugonna_bosco) October 15, 2017
President Jacob Zuma is having good times in #Nigeria a Jacob Zuma statue unveiled pic.twitter.com/DBicMioGkb
— Thami (@DavidMilis) October 15, 2017