Politics
2023: Okorocha Gives Reasons Why He May Be Contesting For President
Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has hinted that he may be contesting for the country’s president by 2023.
Okorocha, who addressed selected journalists in Abuja, ahead of his 58 birthday celebration explained that his ambition to become the president of Nigeria was borne out of the desire to render selfless service to the nation.
He said, “Having contested in 2003, 2007, 2015, and you are asking me at this time if I will contest? That’s quite interesting. My contest for presidency is not just because I want to be president. if am going to be the president for failure or be a president that will not succeed, I don’t want to be a president. But if my presidency will unite this country, then I want to be a president.
“If my presidency will address the issue of poverty and insecurity, then I want to be president. If my presidency will address the economy of this nation that we will begin to talk like other developed nation, then I want for be a president. And if my presidency will guarantee education for the poorest of the poor, then I want to be a president. Other than these, hold your president and presidency, I am fine.”
According to him, “I really don’t understand whether people run for president of the federal republic of Nigeria because of where they come from or because of what they can do for the nations – I think these are two different things.
“Sometimes, it looks like when we talk about the presidency it looks like the only qualification you have is where you come from or the religion that you belong and not what you can give to the people, this is where I defer.
“If I am running for president, I am running for the president because of what I do for the people and not necessarily where I come from and this is the mistake we have made in this country in choosing leadership at every levels. These sentiments have all been there.
The former governor of Imo State, who also broke his silence on the current state of the All Progressive Congress (APC), noted that respect for President Muhamadu Buhari is all that is keeping the party alive.
Okorocha added that the party died the day the leadership abandoned the progressive and democratic ideals on which it was founded.
According to Okorocha, who is also the Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, apart from President Buhari, the other leaders of the political blocks that merged to form the party in 2015, were practically schemed out by forces that joined the party.