Because his salary, allowances and security vote, which runs into millions of Naira have not been slashed, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Monday confirmed he is living in alternative reality when he accused Nigerians of over -dramatizing the current economic recession.
Okorocha made the allegation when he hosted a team of officers from the National Defence College, NDC, at the Government House, Owerri.
“I think what we call recession has been over dramatised. I say so because agriculture had remained the nation’s main pivot upon which all the sectors of our economy revolve”, Okorocha said.
“Because this vital sector has been neglected, it has given rise to poverty today, including the rise in the dollar and the fall of the Naira.
“Most times in Nigeria, we treat the symptoms rather than the disease.
“Let us discuss more about the disease, which is the total neglect of the agricultural sector of the nation’s economy by our past leaders”, he added.
Okorocha smugly reminded his audience that before the advent of oil, agriculture provided over 70 percent of employment and resources of the nation. It also accounted for 75% of Nigeria’s foreign reserves, he recalled.
“At that time, we were a rich nation. Oil made us lazy. This led us into this recession. Imo State is keying into the revitalization of the agric sector.
“We have gone deep in our palm plantation and we are moving speedily into rice farming”, Okorocha added.
Recall that the governor recently said he purposely left a mountainous heap of refuse at Douglas Road, the most busy road in the State, as punishment for Owerri people who are sabotaging his administration.
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