Segun Showunmi in Ibadan
The former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha on Saturday said that common enemy of Nigeria is poverty and injustice which led to insecurity across the nation, calling on Nigerians to rise up to find lasting solution to it before the country collapse totally.
Penpushing reports that the Okorocha made this known after he was conferred with award of “Outstanding Friend of Ibadan”, during the 2021 Ibadan Cultural Festival Celebration held at liberty stadium,Ibadan,Oyo state capital.
The former Governor noted that poor children without fathers and mothers cannot go to school in Nigeria because of poverty, adding that its time for well meaning Nigerians to join hands and fight the common enemy.
Penpushing further reports that, Okorocha lamented that despite his little efforts in solving the problem by building schools across the federation so as to gives access for poor children whose parent cannot afford to send them to school, yet poverty and injustice is still ravaging the nation.
“If all these children gathered here and many of them who have passed through my foundation were not giving the opportunity of free education, many of them would have become one of the Boko Haram causing violence around the nation’, he noted..
The ex governor maintained that he never gives the free education for the children to pay him back, but what matter most is to reach out and give hope to the hopeless and the needy in the society.
Penpushing also reports that,he however thanked the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and Ibadan sons and daughters for counting him worthy for the award, saying that the award was in appreciation for his contribution towards giving free education.
The President General of Central Council of Ibadan Indigene (CCII), Chief Yemi Soladoye in his welcome address, said that the yearly Ibadan Week is meant to celebrate Ibadan sons and daughters, as well as the people that has contributed to the development of Ibadanland.
Penpushing reports that, he however urged all Ibadans at home and abroad to continue to support the development of the land, and perform their responsibility towards upliftment of Ibadan to a greater height.
The other awardees include: Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial district, Kola Balogun, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, Prof. Sabitu Ariyo, and Hon. Abass Aleshinloye among others.
Meanwhile, Okorocha was awarded in recognition of his contributions to the education of indigent students through his free education program and establishment of tuition free schools, Rocha’s Foundation College in Ibadan where 25,000 indigent children across Southwest out of which 6,000 were from Ibadan, Oyo State have benefited from the free education program
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