MO STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, OWERRI
PRESS RELEASE
GOVERNOR OKOROCHA HONORED BY DIOCESE OF ORLU
Governor Rochas Okorocha has thrown his weight behind the building of Catholic Diocese of Orlu University and has directed that the land to that effect and all the necessary authorization papers for the university be given to the leadership of the Diocese for the commencement of the university.
The governor gave the directive during his thanksgiving service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Orlu Catholic Diocese with the Governor and his political friends who attended the crowded and historic event, making more than one hundred and forty five million Naira (N145m) donation for the commencement of the process for the University and for the renovation of the cathedral.
The thanksgiving service had witnessed more than three hundred Catholic priests, and priests from other churches in Orlu Diocese and across the state with Governor Okorocha donating N100m on behalf of the state government out of the N145m, while Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Chief Chidi Idiga (JAFAC), and Chief Jerry Chukwueke donated N5m, and N4m respectively.
In his speech at the service, Governor Okorocha said the state government would continue to invest heavily in education, and that is why the free education program of the Government would remain a prime project to the government, adding that the Marine University under construction in Ossemotor Oguta LGA, the European University in Ideato and the one under construction at Ngor Okpala/Mbaise would be the envy of many when they all take off. Governor Okorocha has always encouraged the Church to invest relentlessly in the building of Universities to assist in producing graduates with the fear of God.
He reiterated that his second tenure would be better than his first term, adding that the rural roads projects would be completed, while the free education from primary to secondary to university will remain, stressing too that he would live up to his promise of building industries and factories in his second term to create jobs in the state and end poverty among the citizenry.
His words, “When I said I will stop kidnapping in the state including Orlu, people doubted me. Today, it is a success story; kidnapping has gone in the state. Now I have promised industries, I am speaking based on my trust in God. I will fulfill it. This government will fulfill its campaign promises. The 27 General hospitals, the 305 primary schools and other projects will be completed”.
He continued “the problem I had with the elite or the bigmen in the state was that I didn’t carry them along. But I will now carry everyone along. These coming four years will be better than the last four years.” The Diocese also honoured the governor, his wife, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha and the Deputy-Governor, Prince Eze Madumere. They gave Governor Okorocha, Nnaoma Di Ebube and the wife, Nneoma Nwere Ugwu.
In his speech, the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Augustine Ukwuoma who also gave the sermon, called for rule of law and said the Catholic Church would cooperate with him because the church has been in the forefront of development long before now, adding that even Europe was developed by the Church.
The Bishop explained that although governing people is always difficult, the government should always listen to them to eliminate their biases, advising the people too to pray for the government, noting that people can criticize those in authority, but it must be constructive and not just for the sake of doing so or for the sake of opposition.

Sam Onwuemeodo
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media