Imo Governor Rochas Okorochas has issued a statement distancing himself from billboards showing him in a handshake with US President Barack Obama at the White House with the words, “Behold, The New Faces of Change”.
The billboards, which sprang up around the Imo capital, Owerri, have come under criticism from Nigerians.
READ: Nigerians Blast Okorocha For Erecting Billboards Of Handshake With Obama In Imo [TWEETS]
The statement issued, Monday, July 27, 2015 by Okorocha’s chief press secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo said that he never authorised anybody to erect the billboards in his honour, neither was the governor aware that such billboards were placed in Owerri.
“To say the least, the Imo Governor or the state government he superintends did not place the photographs on the referenced screen or billboards, and was not aware or informed of such development, and could not have authorized anybody or any group to do that since it was totally unnecessary,” Onwuemeodo said.
He said that the people who put up the embarrassing billboards had gone intentions, but since they are not experts, they goofed.
“We had done our investigations and had discovered that some politicians in the state did that and they had done it with good intentions without their knowing the implications since they are not experts in public relations. They had thought that by doing the adverts they were going to impress the governor. And we can understand that,” the statement read.
Read the full statement below:
The attention of the Imo State Government has been drawn to His Excellency, Governor Rochas Okorocha’s photographs with president Barak Obama been shown on the digital billboard screen and flex billboard banner.
At the level God had placed the Imo Governor even before his becoming governor in 2011, he would not have authorized anybody to begin to advertise or display his photographs with the American President.
We had done our investigations and had discovered that some politicians in the state did that and they had done it with good intentions without their knowing the implications since they are not experts in public relations. They had thought that by doing the adverts they were going to impress the governor. And we can understand that. The government has however told them to put a stop to that.
The government also wants to use the opportunity offered by this development to demand that any body who wants to do any advert for the governor in any media or publicity outfit should get clearance from designated officials of the government. We appreciate the love of those behind the adverts in question for the governor, but next time, when they intend to do that they should get clearance before going public.
We are aware of the fact that Imo people love their governor and do certain things to appreciate him, but they should please be thorough enough, by informing the government to avoid playing into the hands of habitual opponents.
It was a good thing that His Excellency, President Mohammadu Buhari in his magnanimity included the Imo governor in his team for the visit to President Obama, but the governor had got to a level that he could not have allowed the adverts in question if informed.
So, we take the liberty to call on the general public who had seen or who will see the photographs on the networks in question to discard them. They are not from the Imo State Government.
