A former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha has officially declared to contest for the presidency in 2023.
He currently represents Imo West Senatorial District in the 9th Senate.
While declaring his intentions to run for office of President at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Monday, Okorocha said uniting Nigerians across ethnic and religious divides would be his paramount goal.
He pledged to create an enabling economy, where productive activities and job creation would be the order of the day.
The Presidential aspirant also said he would make free education compulsory, especially from primary to secondary schools.
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.”
Okorocha, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress APC will be making his fourth attempt at the presidency.
He has been having a running battle with the current Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma.
Among the politicians who have declared interest to run for the presidency in 2023 from the southeast, Okorocha is believed to have a close affinity with people from all geo-political zones of the country through his philanthropic gestures.
With his official declaration January 31st, 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 gunning for the presidency in 2023.
