Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri
Former Governor of Imo State, and a presidential aspirant in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Rochas Okorocha, on Tuesday, dismissed as “unwarranted preaching,” remarks by Pastor Tunde Bakare where he was quoted as saying that “the Igbo ethnic group is cursed”.
Pastor Bakare made the alleged comment while preaching in his church.
Okorocha, a Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, fired back at Bakare while speaking to newsmen in Abuja.
The former Governor said he was not happy with the Pastor, after a viral video where the General Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, revealed why the Igbo could not produce a Nigerian President.
Bakare had said: “Why should anyone in this country say the Igbo man cannot be President of Nigeria? I was at Imo State, and I told them the reason why the Igbo cannot rule Nigeria and I want to remove the curse today. Do you know what happened? The day Tafawa Balewa was killed, they removed his turban, poured wine on his head, forced him to drink and shot him. In the process, he cursed them saying, none of your tribe will ever rule Nigeria.
“I want to break the curse today because this generation of Igbos was not part of those people. By the authority of God’s word, I reverse the curse of Tafawa Balewa over the Igbo generation. Henceforth, the Igbo will have access to the throne-like any other Nigerians.”
In his response, Okorocha said: “When I listened to Bakare mention that the Igbo are cursed in the course of his preaching, I think that is an overstatement and unwarranted preaching. I must state here categorically that Igbo are not cursed, and they will never be cursed.
“They are peaceful and blessed Nigerians who are found in every nook and cranny of this country. They may not be good politicians, because of the kind of politics we play in Nigeria, but definitely, they are not cursed. The Igbo are a great asset to this country. They are not the problems.”
