Lifestyle
PHOTOS: Jacob Zuma Statue in Imo State, Nigeria — Diplomacy, Symbolism and Public Backlash
In October 2017 the government of Imo State, in south-eastern Nigeria, unveiled a larger-than-life statue of Jacob Zuma, then President of South Africa. The monument, placed on a landscaped roundabout in the state capital Owerri, quickly became one of the most talked-about public artworks in Nigeria—less for its artistry than for the storm of debate it provoked.
A Governor’s Diplomatic Gesture
The statue was commissioned during the tenure of Governor Rochas Okorocha, who hosted Zuma on an official visit.
Alongside the unveiling, a major road was named Jacob Zuma Road, and local traditional leaders conferred on the South African president a chieftaincy title.
Okorocha said the gestures were meant to honour Zuma for what he described as “his contributions to African unity” and to strengthen ties between Nigeria and South Africa.
He portrayed the statue as a symbol of pan-African solidarity and an investment in international friendship.
Public Outcry and Controversy
Almost immediately, the tribute drew fierce criticism across Nigeria.
Commentators and civic groups questioned why a Nigerian state should immortalise a foreign leader—particularly one who, at the time, was facing ongoing corruption allegations in South Africa.
Social media filled with satire and outrage.
Newspapers such as Premium Times and Vanguard reported that the statue allegedly cost several hundred million naira, though the Imo State government did not release any official figures, leaving the exact expense disputed.
Many saw the project as a misplaced priority in a state struggling with basic infrastructure and salary arrears.
Material and Design
Press photographs show a towering likeness of Zuma in suit and tie, but reports differ on whether the structure is bronze or fibreglass.
Given the absence of definitive technical documentation, most accounts simply describe it as a “large statue”.
Legacy of a Divisive Monument
Years later the Jacob Zuma statue still stands in Owerri as both a landmark and a lightning rod.
For supporters of Okorocha’s vision it represents a bold, if unconventional, gesture of pan-African diplomacy.
For critics it remains a cautionary tale about how political symbolism and public spending can collide.
Whether viewed as a celebration of African unity or as political grandstanding, the monument has become part of Nigeria’s contemporary political history—illustrating how a single work of public art can ignite a national conversation about leadership, accountability and the meaning of honour.
Source
BBC News. “Nigeria’s Imo State unveils Jacob Zuma statue.” 16 October 2017.
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