Former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has officially declared his interest in the presidency in the 2023 general election, with a pledge to surpass the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in terms of uniting the entire country across religious and ethnic divides.
This is just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), yesterday charged the former governor with theft of N2.9 billion from public coffers.
The anti-corruption agency filed the charges, totalling 17, at the Federal High Court, Abuja. He is accused of conspiring with others, including an APC politician and five companies, to steal N2.9 billion from public coffers.
Okorocha, who is being charged to court on a 17-count charge, will be arraigned alongside Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Ltd, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Ltd, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif Int’l Ltd, and Legend World Concepts Ltd.
At the formal declaration held at the International Conference Centre Abuja, the presidential aspirant said under his stewardship in 2023, Nigeria will no longer be tagged as the poverty capital of the world, insisting that having studied the peculiarities of Nigeria, he has the capacity to galvanise human and material resources to uplift the country.
He also vowed that if allowed to become President, he would create an enabling environment for productive ventures to thrive, insisting that Nigeria was never in lack of resources but effective leaders that can manage the available resources.
The Senator representing Imo-West senatorial district in the 9th Senate, however, decried the high-handedness within the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), claiming the party lacked justice and fairness.
Okorocha had, during his World’s press conference, criticised the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, saying more often than not it engages in character assassination once an allegation is raised against any personality.
Rochas, a chieftain of the APC, will be making his fourth attempt at the presidency.
With his official declaration, he has joined the likes of Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, former Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, and businessman, Sam Ohuabunwa as leaders from the South East that are so far running for the presidency in 2023.
