Not minding a charge of fraud bordering on N2.9b against him and six other persons by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has gone ahead to declare his interest in running for the post of the president, come 2023.
Okorocha addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja about his ambition to run for the presidency.
The Imo West senator said the country is facing a number of challenges that need to be addressed.
“I have no other country that I can call my country apart from Nigeria. I speak to you today and my Bible tells me that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Permit me not to use a prepared speech because I want to pour out my heart.
“I speak with you with a high spirit because it despises little things that do not help mankind. It is called a noble spirit. My heart is filled with mixed feelings: one side is joyous and the other side bleeds.
“I ran for the presidency 20 years ago. I did not succeed. Six years later, I tried and came second after Umaru Yar’Adua. In 2015, I ran and our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari, emerged.
“I am not in politics for what I can get. I am in politics for what I can give. I price honour more than life and glory more than wealth.
“My heart bleeds because of that boy in Maiduguri or Katsina that cannot go to school. I’m not satisfied when poverty becomes the order of the day. Many countries have tagged us as the poverty capital of the world. I don’t agree.”
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed 17-count charge against a former Imo Governor Rochas Okorocha and six others.
The charge filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, has Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited as other defendants.
Okorocha, a serving Senator, representing Imo West Senatorial District, was alleged to have conspired with others to steal and launder about N2.9 billion.
The EFCC claimed that the funds belonged to Imo State and its Local Government Areas (LGAs).
It further claimed that the defendants allegedly diverted the funds between October 2014 and February 2016 from the Imo State Government House account and Imo State Joint Local Government Project account.
EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren confirmed that the charged was filed on Monday but could not provide further details as at press time.
“I can confirm that a charge has been filed today at the Federal High Court, Abuja against Senator Rochas Okorocha and others.
“I will provide further information when they are available. Thank you,” he said.
Rochas, it is on record is having a subsisting corruption cases against him as pressed by Governor Hope Uzodimma led administration in Imo state.
