Multimillion-dollar monuments in Africa that courted serious controversies

Zuma Statue, Imo State, Nigeria

Jacob Zuma served as the fourth President of South Africa from 2009 before his resignation in 2018. Prior to that, he served as the country’s number two from 1999 to 2005 when he was dismissed by President Thabo Mbeki. In 2017, he came to Nigeria on the invitation of Rochas Okorocha, the Governor of Imo State, but little did he know that a statue, road and chieftaincy title awaits him. Rochas Okorocha stunned several Nigerians when he unveiled a 25m statue of Jacob Zuma which was constructed at the cost of N520 million, around $1.4 million. Okorocha was widely castigated for spending such huge money on building a statue when such could be deployed to alleviate the suffering of several poor people in his state especially since Zuma has not done anything for the state to deserve the accolades.

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Adedeji Ademola

Adedeji Ademola is a Staff Contributor of Face2Face Africa. He holds a B.A (Hons) in History and Diplomatic Studies from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria and an MBA degree with specialization in General Management and Entrepreneurship as well as a Master of Science degree in International Relations both from the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He was a recipient of the Guerrand Hermes Foundation for Peace Scholarship in 2006. He got the Best Student Leader award and also a merit award from the Faculty of Arts Students Association during his undergraduate days. Adedeji is a development strategist/activist and youth empowerment advocate. He is a Member, African Studies Association of the UK; Member, Royal African Society; Member, African Institute of Business Simulations, etc. His main research interests are in Politics, Society and Governance in West Africa, Africa inter-state relations, emerging powers, security, democratization and regional integration in West Africa. He has published articles in local and international journals; public media, among other several works.

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