Benue State born Nigerian-American Citizen, Austin Chenge, is set to make history. He wants to become the Governor of Michigan, USA. If he succeeds, he would becomes the first black to be Governor of Michigan.
The 34-year-old decided to change the narratives by making the Nation proud, and setting a legacy outside the shores of his Fatherland.
Chenge is seriously in the race to become the next Governor of Michigan in 2022.
He is challenging United States Representatives Member, Lamar Smith, to the ticket under the Republican Party, the Political Party, current US president, Donald Trump belongs to.
The young Nigerian is an embodiment of the American dream who has repeatedly stunned critics by achieving what most people would consider impossible.
He’s a graduate of the School of Law, University of Birmingham, England, United Kingdom.
In 2016, he designed the popular tricycle known as “Wazobia tricycle” aimed at improving the lives of peasant farmers all over Africa.
Since the year 2018, he has been serving in the US military army as a specialist.
He’s a decorated Army officer with Achievement Medal as Distinguished Honor Graduate with a CGPA of 99.8%, and for exceptional performance while on active duty.
He announced his intention to run for the Governorship of Michigan in March 2020, making him the first Republican to do so.
He’s one of the numerous Nigerians making the nation proud in other parts of the world.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has described Governor Rotimi Akeredolu as too petty and mean, going by his outbursts after he was declared winner of last Saturday’s Governorship election.
According to the leading opposition party, some of the remarks credited to Akeredolu were unnecessary and unbefitting of a governor.
Governor Akeredolu had expressed his disappointment, and shock that the people of Akure South, Akure North, Ifedore Local governments did not vote for him despite his administration’s infrastructural development of the area.
The three Local Councils are part of Akure kingdom, which are the stronghold of the candidate of People’s Democratic Party, Eyitayo Jegede.
In a statement on Wednesday in Akure “PDP frowned at this high level of pettiness and self servitude exhibited by the Governor who is always fond of harassing and lording his views over and above any other views.
“Our party considers this sudden outburst as harassing, self serving, unwarranted and unbecoming of a leader of his status who should have found a place in his heart to accommodate the right of all to vote for any candidate of their choice and must not be intimidated on such basis.
“Our party again views the statements as self serving of the governor expected these harassed local governments to prefer him to Mr. Eyitayo Jegede who hails from the locality and wonder how the governor could have felt if he lost his Owo Local government where he also hails from.
“We cannot find words to describe the unenviable action of the governor and sheer ingratitude displayed by someone who had just been declared a winner of an election, notwithstanding that the electoral process was manifestly compromised, and yet had time to discriminate against or sieve out those who voted for him and those who did not vote for him.
“Honestly, we expect the governor to have risen above this pettiness, if he is desirous of making any progress in the governance of Ondo State.
Signed by the Director of Media of PDP, Mr Leye Igbagbo, the statement added “be that as it may be, our party wishes to caution the governor not to rejoice yet, and so refrain from attacking and harassing the people because it is not yet uhuru for him and certainly not the auspicious time to seek vengeance if he ever needs to do so at all.
“Our party is still studying the election results and how the entire process was largely compromised, and would soon come out with the next line of action aimed at addressing and redressing the clear infraction.
“In the interim, we do hope that the governor would be magnanimous, at least for the little time the victory would last, rather than dissipating energy on sieving out those who voted and those who did not vote for him.
“We also advise him to divest himself for once, of this type of pettiness and work on how Ondo State can regain her glory that had been lost under his watch.”
Governor Akeredolu won decisively in 15 out of the 18 LGAs in the state during the September 19 Governorship election. The PDP and its candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, has refused to congratulate him since his victory.
The Federal Government has scheduled a meeting with the 36 states Governors and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on the ongoing anti-FSARS protests across the country.
The meeting is also meant to review the general security in the country.
Stakeholders had, on various times, called for the sack of Security Chiefs over the level of insecurity in the country, but the presidency apparently thought nothing of their complaints. And recently, things came to a head with the #EndSARS protests across the nation against police brutality in general.
Even with the dissolution of the outfit, and its replacement with SWAT, the protesters are not impressed.
Agency reports, however, stated that the 36 governors in the country are meeting with the IG on the issue.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, a statement issued by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Head, Media And Public Affairs, in Abuja on Wednesday said that Adamu would be joining the NGF 19th teleconference meeting to explain the security situation.
Bello-Barkindo said that the Governors in the virtual meeting, beginning, by 2 pm on Oct. 14, would also be briefed by the technical committee on electricity tariffs.
“The Ministers of Works and Housing, Communications and Digital Economy and Humanitarian Services and Disaster Management will also be on hand to address the governors, one after the other.
“The Humanitarian Resources and Disaster Management Minister, Umar Farouk, will be discussing how to lift a hundred million Nigerians out of poverty with the governors.”
Other matters to be discussed at the meeting according Bello-Barkindo include the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) Summit scheduled for the last quarter of the year and the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
He added that the governors would also discuss the conclusions of the distribution of palliatives by the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) a conglomeration of banks and some pubic spirited philanthropists including Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
Nigerians are still reacting in shock and disbelief over the nomination of Buhari’s Media aide, and rabid defender, Lauretta Onochie, by President Muhammadu Buhari as a Commissioner on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Since Onochie’s nomination, reactions in condemnation has been coming like claps of thunder, with Nigerians describing it as a deliberate provocation of the people, and a brazen breach of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Femi Falana, SAN, has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for nominating his aide, Lauretta Onochie, as an Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Commissioner.
Falana stressed that Onochie, as an aide to President Buhari, is not qualified to be a Commissioner of INEC, as this basically shows partisanship.
Falana added that the criteria provided in the Constitution to determine who is fit for the position is that members of the INEC must not be partisan, a rule which he said Onochie is not compliant with.
He described Onochie as an “unrepentant member” of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Party and one who has “consistently attacked members of other political parties who dared criticise the Buhari administration whether justly or otherwise.
Falana said, “To that extent, she is partisan and, therefore, not qualified to be a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission”.
President Buhari is seeking confirmation of Onochie’s appointment as a National Commissioner for INEC, representing Delta State. He made the in a letter sent to the Senate on Tuesday, which was later read by Senator Ahmed Lawan at plenary.
The President is also seeking confirmation of the appointment of three others – Professor Mohammed Sani (Katsina); Professor Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti), and Seidu Ahmed (Jigawa).
However, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, condemned the nomination of Onochie by President Buhari, saying it has flouted the nation’s constitution with the appointment of his media aide, as a National Commissioner on the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The opposition Senators, in a statement made available to the media in Abuja, and signed by Abaribe, demanded that President Buhari should withdraw Onochie’s nomination.
Laureta Onochie
The Senators noted that Buhari, by nominating Onochie, “has willfully gone against the constitution that he swore to uphold.”
Part of the statement read, “Item F, paragraph 14 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) forbids a card-carrying member of a political party to be a member of INEC.
“The Minority Caucus of the Senate is against this nomination and call on Mr President to withdraw it”, the statement reads.
Over 70 CSO Groups have asked Buhari to quickly withdraw Onochie’s nomination, saying it is a deliberate provocation of the people, and a brazen breach of the constitution.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has come under criticism over the naming of the replacement for the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Special Weapon And Tactical Squad, SWAT. They say it is still the same old wine in a new bottle.
A former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, lambasted the IGP for the establishment of SWAT, describing the disbandment of SARS and its replacement as a Greek Gift.
The Inspector General of Police had, on Tuesday, established SWAT to “fill the gaps” left by the notorious Federal Special Anti-robbery squad (FSARS). But Omokri said replacing SARS with SWAT was like NEPA changed to PHCN.
“The SWAT announced by the Police IG is a Greek Gift. Without weeding out errant cops and recruiting new blood, who must go through a different and better training than SARS, the SWAT will just be like when NEPA changed to PHCN.
“Never again must a NEPA certificate rule Nigeria. Never again. Never, ever, ever again,” he tweeted.
Bayelsa born singer, Timi Dakolo, mocked the new established SWAT by tweeting: “Oga mechanic please change the color of my Benz from Black to grey make we see if the engine go begin work well.. Nepa to Phcn,SARS to SWAT, OK.”
In the same vein, Television Presenter and film maker, Frank Edoho, in his words said “How can the new training begin next week when the very SARS you dissolved are still on the streets shooting and killing unarmed protesters?
“You just want to do what NEPA did. Different name, same darkness. We are just being deceived by these people”.
The IGP had, on Sunday, dissolved SARS nationwide, and on Tuesday established SWAT in its place. Its dissolution stemmed from the nationwide protest by Nigerian Youths against the brutalities, humiliation and extortion of the youths by the defunct SARS, asking for its end.
Even though the Government has dissolved it, and accepted the other requests made by the Youths, the street protests which have shut down many states have continued.
Realising the gravity of his false allegation against Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adam’s Oshiomhole is begging for forgiveness to avoid a heavy sanction by the Court.
In his usual foul- mouthedness, and living to the dictum that all is fair in war, Oshiomhole had, in July 2018, during a press conference he addressed, alleged that Governor Ortom had a hand in the chilling murder of two Roman Catholic Priests and other parishioners in Benue.
They were murdered in the Mbalom community.
Oshiomhole alleged that one of the murdered Priests had delivered a Homily that was critical of Ortom, hence the murder.
Ortom went to court, and sued Oshiomhole to the tune of N10bn.
At the beginning, instead of admitting that he lied, Oshiomhole filed six preliminary objections to Ortom’s suit. But the objections were all resolved in favour of Ortom.
However, on Tuesday, Oshiomhole swallowed his vomit. When the case came up, Ortom’s Counsel, Samuel Irabor, said he was ready to call witnesses. But Oshiomhole’s Counsel, Festus Jumbo, said his client wanted an out of court settlement, and pleaded for a one week stand-down to enable them present the terms for the settlement, which would, among other things, include a retraction of the publication.
Governor Samuel Ortom
The Judge, Hon. Justice Augustine Ityonyiman, of the Makurdi High Court, adjourned the case to October 29.
In suing Oshiomhole, Ortom proved he was not a Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the failed Edo APC Governorship candidate in the September 19, 2020 election.
In 2016, when Ize-Iyamu contested on the ticket of the PDP, Oshiomhole, while campaigning for Governor Godwin Obaseki, the then candidate of the APC, had painted the Pastor in the most atrocious colours, calling him a thief, a school dropout, a cultist, and more.
Even though those labels hurt Ize-Iyamu’s campaign in 2020, he is yet to consider going to court to clear his name. Oshiomhole had dismissed his allegations against the Pastor as politics.
In Ortom’s case, he felt that beyond politics, going to court was his best option to clear his name.
The United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc has failed to impress global rating firm, Fitch which has revealed that there is no improvement in the fortunes of the bank since March this year when it downgraded the commercial bank as stressed.
The lender was, six months ago, placed under the Rating Watch Negative, RWN list of stressed banks in the country after it was rated ‘B’ by the foremost rating agency.
Few days ago, Fitch released its new rating for Nigerian banks where it affirmed the Kenneth Uzoka-led bank ‘B’, meaning that the probability of default in UBA’s core operational areas, is still very high financial analysts say.
The globally renowned credit rating agency, however, reaffirmed competitor, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC and its subsidiary, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC National Long-Term ‘AAA (nga)’ and National Short-Term ‘F1+(nga)’ ratings.
“The implication of ‘B’ affirmation for UBA is that even though the bank’s financial commitments are currently being met however, customers cannot rely on its capacity for continued payment which is vulnerable to deterioration in the long term,” an analyst said
The negative rating came after the bank said it was embarking on reform to sanitize its workforce and improve performance. No fewer than 2000 employees were sacked last December, in a major sweep after the management said they were no longer useful for its operation moving forward.
The sack, also generated huge furore in the sector after the chairman of the bank, Tony Elumelu called the sacked workers ‘toxic’ employees who are no longer required by the lender in its quest to remain among the biggest banks in the country.
Surprisingly, the bank which prides itself as Africa’s Global Bank, had immediately after it relieved the employees of their appointments, increased the salaries and allowances of all its directors by close to 200 per cent, a decision the management said was necessary to unleash their optimal performance.
Uzoka: Receives Bumper Pay Amidst Furore Over Sacked Workers
The magazine learnt that Elumelu, Uzoka and other top management staff are beneficiary of the multi-billion bumper pay packet that has continued to keep tongues in the sector waging, as to why the bank took such decision.
Obviously, the recipients of the big pay have not been able to turn the fortunes of the bank around, considering that many months down the line, the lender has yet to impress in core operational areas, according to Fitch which said stressed signs are still very visible, therefore warning “of receding near-term risks to the bank’s credit fundamentals from the economic fallout arising from the oil price crash and coronavirus pandemic.”
The respected agency warned customers and shareholders that the economic headwinds in the country have “heightened” UBA’s “level of risk in doing banking business and resulting risks to its financial performance over the next 12-18 months.”
The management of the bank said in January that it increased the salaries and allowance of its directors, to keep them at the top level of performances, as part of the holistic reforms to improve the lender’s fortunes.
“Over 5,000 staff of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, started the new year with a lot of cheer as the bank yesterday announced its promotion to new grades as well as salary upgrades with immediate effect this January.
“Those who are beneficiaries of this exercise will receive up to 170% increase in their salaries and benefits, whilst a good number have been moved to higher grade levels,” Nasir Ramon, the bank’s spokesman said of the pay increase 10 months ago.
Elumelu: Sacked Workers Are Toxic
Ramon said sacking the former employees was part of efforts to turn around the bank because through the “carefully planned restructuring embarked upon by the bank in the last quarter of 2019, UBA has transformed its grading system and processes to become one of the most competitive within the industry.”
Fitch seemed not to be impressed even though it has removed the bank from its watch-list, as temporary breeder, experts say, not to further ‘depressed’ customers and shareholders by highlighting embedded stress indicators.
The rating agency said in its latest reports that the bank has manage to survive implosion due to assistance from the Central bank of Nigeria, CBN, but warned that such cannot guarantee its stability in the long run.
Fitch said “In our opinion the impact of the economic downturn on UBA’s credit profile is tolerable at the bank’s current rating level and it will take several quarters before the full extent of the crisis on corporates and households is seen in its financial metrics.
“Since our previous rating action in March, regulatory forbearance on asset classification and banks’ own debt relief measures have significantly eased pressures on the sector’s asset quality.
“Debt relief measures are, nevertheless, temporary and with the eventual easing of fiscal and monetary support from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), we see a material risk that bank asset quality could deteriorate faster, unless economic recovery gathers pace.”
“What Fitch ‘B’ ratings means is that UBA barely escaped the ‘CCC’ category, the bottom down class when the fear of depression is very high for any bank labeled as such. Definitely, one step to be categorized as a substantial credit risky bank is not good for UBA” Adegbenga Ibiyemi, a financial analyst told the magazine.
The bank increased the salary and allowances of its directors by close to 200 per cent early this year; from N18 million to N50 million, according to the half year report presented to the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC recently.
“The current mood in the bank does not justify the fat cheques being received by the directors. The bank’s position that the increase in pay of top echelon is a good business decision has been proven wrong in the light of Fitch’s disposition.
“The meaning of this is that, the colossal investment has failed to reflect in the bank’s bottom line. One would have expected the management of UBA to make good business decision for the sake of customers and shareholders,” an analyst said.
He said the bank’s “salary and allowance binge for directors does not, in any way, show empathy for the employees sacked last year as part of what many considers an austerity measures by UBA to cut down costs.”
The jumbo pay has also unjustly added billions to the bank’s books without corresponding results, he said.
Ramon Nasir, the bank’s spokesman did not respond when the magazine reached out to him to comment on the issue.
Personnel of the defunct SARS have not only lost their plum jobs, but they are to undergo both a psychological and medical examination. A new team to take the place of SARS, Special Weapons And Tactics Team, will begin training at various centres next week. The members of the new team will also undergo a psychological and medical examination.
The order for them to undergo the tests was given Tuesday by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu on13th October, 2020.
In a release signed by Force Spokesperson, Frank Mba, the IGP said it was in accordance with Section 18 (10) of the Police Act 2020.
Based on that, he ordered all the personnel of the defunct SARS to report at the Force Headquarters, Abuja for debriefing, psychological and medical examination. The officers are expected to undergo this process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties.
The medical examination will be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counselling and Support Unit (PCSU), a Unit, which henceforth shall engage in psychological management, re-orientation and training of officers of the Force deployed for tactical operations and other duties. The Unit, which is domiciled with the Force Medical Department and coordinated by the Force Medical Officer, has its membership drawn from amongst psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors and imams, Public Relations practitioners, Civil Society and other Human Rights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise.
Meanwhile, the IGP has set up a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team that will fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of the defunct SARS. Prospective members of this new team will also undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment. They are to commence training at the different Police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week.
While personnel from the Police Commands in the South-East and the South-South will be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State, those from the Police Commands from the North and the South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende, Nasarawa State and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, respectively.
Few hours after Amnesty International disclosed that over 10 protesters were killed in the ongoing EndSARS protest across the country, former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned that the situation should not be allowed to get bloodier.
The former leader who is widely known for his respect for the sanctity of human lives, said that no life must be lost as youths protest against the brutality of Nigerian policemen entered another week.
The former president’s spoke amidst calls by other prominent leaders in the country on the federal government to end extra-judicial killing by men of the Police Force.
Jonathan said on his Facebook post on Tuesday that “No Nigerian blood needs to be spilled or life lost during a peaceful protest that seeks to advance our country.
We may hold different views on national issues, but there is no doubt that most people desire the same thing for Nigeria: a place where we can all live out the full potential of our God-given abilities. I implore everyone to exercise restraint as we walk through these challenging times.”
Amnesty said this in a tweet on Monday that “So far, Nigerian police have killed at least 10 people since the start of protests against callous operations of SARS.”
Policemen were reported to have shot and killed a protester in Ogbomosho, Oyo State apart from two other protesters that died in Surulere, Lagos amongst others.
Meanwhile, the presidential panel on the reform of the special anti-robbery squad, SARS has accepted the five-point demand of the #EndSARS protesters, according to Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman.
The presidential spokesman said the decision was reached after a meeting with civil society groups and the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC.
Adeesina said “Following the public protests regarding various forms of human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the consequent disbandment of the unit by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, there arose the need for stakeholder engagement to build trust and restore public confidence in law enforcement.”
The decision, sources in Aso Rcok Presidential Villa, said was reached to pacify the angry youths who have been marching on major states’ capitals across the country for the seventh day.
The protesters’ demands include release of all persons arrested and justice for victims of police brutality.
Others are “setting up an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of police misconduct (within 10 days); psychological evaluation of all disbanded SARS officers before they can be redeployed, and increase in police salary so that they can be adequately compensated for protecting lives and property of citizens”
President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier said that the disbandment of the notorious police special unit is the beginning of his government’s efforts to totally overhaul the Nigerian Police Force.
Controversial Senior Special Assistant to the president on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie’s nomination as an Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Commissioner is facing a serious opposition from the civil society group in the country, who said she’s not qualified to hold the position.
President Muhammadu Buhari nominated the Delta born politician and three others to the Senate for confirmation, just few hours ago but the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room said her appointment is against the constitution and invalid due to her political disposition.
Paragraph 14 of the 1999 Constitution forbids any partisan politician form being a member of INEC. The reason is that such could compromise the integrity of the electoral process. Onochie is a staunch supporter of President Buhari and a member of the ruling All progressives Congress, APC.
Clement Nwankwo, convener of Situation Room, in a statement said the nomination of the presidential aide could affect the efforts of the government to built a credible electoral process ahead the 2023 general election, noting that the appointment is self serving and negates the Constitution which says a ‘partisan politician’ should not be a member of the electoral umpire.
The statement said “The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room is concerned about the nomination of Ms. Lauretta Onochie, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Media as National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) representing the South-South.
“Ms. Onochie is a known partisan supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari and his ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
Her nomination negates the Constitution, the civil society group said, because “Item F, paragraph 14 of the third schedule of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) forbids a partisan politician as a member of INEC – a body charged under the Constitution to unbiasedly conduct of free and fair elections.
It warns that Onochie’s “nomination amounts to a major attempt at undermining efforts to build credibility for an improved electoral process in the country, calling “on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately withdraw her nomination.”
“Should the President fail to withdraw this nomination” the group said “ the Nigerian Senate is hereby called upon to disregard her nomination without any consideration whatsoever.”
“It is important for Nigeria that the composition of INEC is transparently non-partisan and independent of partisan political manipulation,” the Situation Room said.
Meanwhile, Hip hop super star, Wizkid has urged the presidential aide to join the EndSARS protest like other women in the country. The attack came after Onochie berated the musician for calling President Buhari an old man.
