I am like a graduate without a certificate- Okorocha

Chidi Samuel|

Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha has compared his ordeal in the hands of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) over the non-release of his certificate return to that of a graduate who finished university education without a certificate.

The embattled governor who spoke at a thanksgiving service on Thursday at Owerri, the state capital blamed some powerful interest in Abuja for his ordeal.

Okorocha said, ”There are interest groups who are bent on tarnishing my achievements in the last eight years. How can you explain the issue of my certificate of return. I am like a graduate without certificate”.

The governor recounted many of the over 1,000 projects he claimed to have completed during the eight years of his administration but specifically noted that the one closest to his heart was the advancement the state made in the field of education.

According to him, his free education scheme from primary to the university for Imo indigenes transformed the states education landscape.

Okorocha also said his administration has built the second best police headquarters in the country.

He said, “Do you know we have built the best police headquarters in Imo State? How many of you have seen it?

“This is the police headquarters. After Abuja, we have the best. This one, I am not qualified to commission this one. This one will be qualified by the Vice President; he is coming here tomorrow. This one pass my power,” he stated.

Besides the police headquarters, Okorocha said his administration equally constructed a Prison facility facing the Government House in Owerri, the state capital.

The governor explained he was moved to tears to build the structure over what he described as ‘worst inhumanity to mankind’ arising from the dilapidated structures he saw earlier.

“This one is the Nigerian Prisons Headquarters. You know where they are staying opposite the Government House, we have 89 people in one room.

“They sleep turn by turn. After this one sleeps for 2 minutes, another one will stand him up and sleep. I saw that and I wept. I said this is the worst inhumanity to mankind. I decided to build a new prison headquarters. It is 3,200 beds each,” he said.