The 52nd birthday celebration of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha was far from the pomp and ceremony that usually characterised the birthday of the high and mighty; neither was it low keyed as the Governor had instructed his aides, even though it was memorable and remarkable.
The governor had initially planned to have an in-house celebration with his immediate family and close associates, but he was stunned by the large turnout of people, who besieged the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC), venue of the event to wish him well.
At the well attended event, the philanthropic activities of the governor, especially his free education programme, were the focus of discussion among politicians and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who came from all parts of the country to celebrate with him.
Also celebrating with the governor were the beneficiaries of the Rochas Foundation Scholarship scheme, whom he had adopted and given free education from primary to university levels.
Though it is unimaginable for a man to have over 5,000 children which he adequately takes care of, no matter how wealthy he maybe, but not with Governor Okorocha who has ‘multitude’ of children.
Owerri, the Imo State capital, witnessed a huge crowd when the Governor’s ‘children’ converged on the capital city to celebrate their father’s birthday. It was indeed an emotional gathering when the graduates and undergraduates of different universities in the country, spoke of how their educational careers were rescued through the scholarship offered by the Rochas Foundation.
Most touching was the ecstasy of the ‘new children’ who had not come in close contact or seen their ‘father’, since they were ‘born’ into the Rochas family. It was a memorable re-union for those who had graduated and parted ways and had not seen their parents or siblings for a long time.
Wishing the Governor long life, the students who were accompanied by their biological parents, thanked him for devoting his life to alleviating the plight of the needy. They described his adoption of the over 5, 000 children as an unprecedented philanthropic gesture.
Recounting his experience, Mohammed Lawal, a 200-level student of Kano State University, described the Governor as the hope of the poor, adding that the Rochas Foundation has assisted young Nigerians irrespective of their tribe and religion to realise their educational dreams.
He said: “My father is the most generous and detribalised Nigerian that I know. If other leaders can have his kind of disposition towards the poor, the world will be a better place. I am studying Business Administration at Kano State University today because of the Rochas Foundation. I had lost all hopes of attaining higher education because my poor parents could not afford it until I came in contact with the Rochas Foundation, where I was offered a scholarship.”
For Miss Mary Salami, a student of Medicine at Ahmadu Belo University Zaria, the Imo State Governor was a God-send that rescued her from her poor background.
She said: “I have been down without hope but I refused to give up. It was in the search for a means to pursue my destiny that I ran into Rochas Foundation and I am living out my dream. So, my advice to other people in my situation out there is not to allow their socio-economic background to tie them to the ground.”
The testimony was the same with other beneficiaries, especially those that have graduated from the University and are gainfully employed.
Describing the governor’s philanthropic gesture as shocking, the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the level of affinity between the Imo State Governor, the students and ex-students of the Rochas Foundation is simply amazing. He urged other leaders and politicians to follow his good example by investing heavily in human capital development.
He added that, “some say that the Imo State Governor is doing all these because of politics. But if this is what politics is all about, then it is good. Governor Okorocha has proved to be a leader with a large heart and this is what Nigeria needs at this moment.”
In his speech, Governor Okorocha said: “I am celebrating light over darkness, and victory over ignorance. The Rochas Foundation spread in all the six geo-political zones of the country is an initiative to give back to the society what God has blessed me with, by offering hope to the hopeless and the less-privileged.
“My joy lay on the fact that God has blessed me to bless others. Seventy-five per cent of my wealth goes to charity. I have every reason to be a detribalised leader if elected the President of this country, having been born by Igbo parents, educated by the North and empowered by the West.
“My success story would not be complete without acknowledging the North for giving me the needed education and the West for giving me the contact which gave me financial success.
“So, there is every reason for me to be a detribalised Nigerian when elected President. With the help of God, I have fixed Imo State and I will also fix Nigeria to the glory of God.”
He further assured that when elected President, “I will also make education free at all levels in the country as I have done in Imo State. I have been a strong advocate of a peaceful and united Nigeria. It is time Nigerians discarded ethnic sentiments for the country to achieve her goal of greatness. We must say no to the deceit of ethnic and religious sentiments that have torn the country apart and embrace one another.”
Describing the governor as a blessing to humanity, the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere said: “The philanthropic activities of my boss started far before he joined politics. He is a man that does not want the poor or needy to cry. He has demonstrated this through the Rochas Foundation and his free education programme in Imo State.
“His 52 years on earth has been a blessing to everyone that has come in contact with him, no matter your tribe or religion and we are wishing him a happy birthday and many more years of service to humanity and our nation. He is a man of vision who has the required capacity to enthrone change in the country.”
Dignitaries present at the event were the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; South-West National Deputy Chairman of the party, Chief Segun Oni and other chieftains of the APC; not excluding thousands of young men and women who had benefitted from the Rochas Foundation Scholarship scheme.
