By Valentine Amanze
Onlie Editor
Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has said that what Nigeria needed was repackaging and not restructuring as being advocated by many Nigerians.
The governor also appealed to the proprietors and managers of the radio and television stations in the country operating under the aegis of Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) to help repackage Nigeria for consumption by the rest of the world.
Okorocha was addressing BON members during their 67th Annual Conference in Owerri on Monday, July 17, 2017.
He advised them to come up with programmes that could allow the less privileged in the society who cannot afford the high cost of electronic media to also be heard.
The governor however pointed out that Nigeria needed to be repackaged to attract investors, while regretting regretting that only the privileged could afford to have access to the services of radio and television stations in the country.
His words: “Our nation requires repackaging. It is unfortunate that a great nation like ours has not been properly packaged for consumption by the international communities. Yet, there are more evils in other nations than we have in Nigeria but the reports going out about our country are such that no one will want to come into Nigerian unless for those who want to take risk. No nation can grow with this arrangement. I want to charge you today, as you meet, think Nigeria and see how you can repackage it. We are not the worst of them all.
“Every geo-political zone has its own interpretation of restructuring. To the South-East, restructuring means creation of an additional state. For the South-South, restructuring means resource control. For the South-West, it means devolution of power and the North may see it differently, but whatever is the case, we are better of, as a United Nigeria.
“The ball is in your court to see how you can project Nigeria and repackage it for public and international consumption. Let me say to all of us here that there is nothing wrong with Nigeria and Nigerians. Nigeria is a great nation and will ever remain a great nation. What we have passed through as a nation, no other country would pass through it without experiencing total collapse. The spiritualists will believe that God has relocated his headquarters to Nigeria and that is why we get away with anything that we do.
“I call on all Nigerians that this is a period to dramatize and demonstrate patriotism which is anchored on the spirit of sacrifice. We must accept the fact that this nation belongs to us and we do not have any other nation on the face of the earth outside Nigeria. So, its incumbent on us to fix Nigeria and make it better not only for us but for generations yet unborn”.
The BON members led by their Chairman, Chief John Momoh, had paid courtesy call on Okorocha at the Government House, Owerri.