President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of one of his media aides, Lauretta Onochie, as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission representing Delta State.
Others are Prof. Mohammed Sani Katsina), Prof. Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti), and Seidu Ahmed (Jigawa).
The letter was read by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.
Onochie is the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media.
- Prof. Muhaamad Sani – Katsina State
- Lauretta Onochie – Delta State
- Kunle Cornelius Ajayi – Ekiti State
- Seidu Ahmad – Jigawa State
— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2020
Senate President @DrAhmadLawan reads a Letter From Mr. President C-in-C on the Confirmation of the following nominees for Appointment as Commissioners of Independent National Electoral Commission (@inecnigeria).
— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2020
Details on the appointment later…
Recall that Lauretta Onochie drew the wrath of Nigerians when she attacked Ayo Balogun, also known as Wizkid after the latter called out the President for keeping quiet about the alleged killing of a young by the now dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Response Squad, SARS.
Wizkid had called out President Buhari for reacting to Donald Trump’s health issues and not showing concern over the security issues in Nigeria.
He had said “Donald Trump is not your business old man!
“Police and SARS are still killing Nigerian youths daily. Do something!
Reacting some Nigerians had said Wizkid was disrespectful for calling Buhari an ‘old man’.
But, Onochie in response said, “It’s not disrespectful to call anyone old. It’s the way and manner Ayo Balogun addressed the President that leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
“He exhibited crass ignorance, insensitivity and childishness. But hey, he’s a #DumbkidNotWhizKid.
“When he grows up, he might learn respect.”
Also, Onochie while commenting on the planned protest against police brutality and extra-judicial killings by security operatives in the country said the protest was a “coordinated attack by cybercriminals”.
Nigerians had taken to Twitter to voice their outrage about the wanton invasion of privacy, harassment and killings by members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other tactical squads.
In response, Onochie said, “I have no doubt that there are some staff of SARS who are unprofessional in their dealings with d public, same way we have unprofessionalism in the army, police, customs, civil service, public service, traders, lawyers, doctors, journalists, teachers, pastors, etc.
“But what is going on now is a coordinated attack by cyber criminals joined by unsuspecting innocent citizens.
“This is not the first time. We must stand by our national institutions while working to improve their effectiveness. That’s what patriotism is about. No sentiments.”
