Buhari congratulates Nigerian-Americans elected in US; prays for successful tenure

No fewer than eight politicians of Nigerian descent won their legislative seats on Tuesday night during the Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota state elections in the United States of America.

This was made known in a tweet by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, via her verified Twitter handle, on Wednesday morning.

“These Nigerian Americans won their elections in Georgia last night. A hearty congrats to them all #ProudlyNigerian. Congratulations to Segun Adeyina, Gabe Okoye, Solomon Adesanya, Tish Naghise, Phil Olaleye, Carol Kazeem, Oye Owolewa, and Esther Agbaje,” the NiDCOM boss tweeted.

A source reports that the US state of Georgia general election was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, with runoffs to be held at a later date for those races that are not yet decided by a majority vote.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that Segun Adeyina, Gabe Okoye, Solomon Adesanya, Tish Naghise, and Phil Olaleye were all candidates for Georgia state representatives under the platform of the Democratic Party.

While Carol Kazeem, also a member of the Democratic Party, was a candidate for Pennsylvania State Representative and Esther Agbaje was a candidate for Minnesota State Representative.

Adeoye “Oye” Owolewa is a Nigerian-American politician, pharmacist, and a member of the Democratic Party.

Celebrating his victory, Owolewa, who reportedly hails from Omuaran, said in an Instagram post, partly, “Looks like WE DID IT!!! I want to thank everyone, from family and close friends to DC residents. Because of your contributions and sacrifices, I stand before you as America’s first Nigerian American congressman.

Also, Anambra-born Gabe Okoye, who won election into the George State House of Representatives from District 102, acknowledged the victory in a post on Facebook. Okoye also asked for divine wisdom to deliver on expectations.

“A very special thank you to the voters of HD-102 for electing me to represent you at the Capitol. I hope to make you proud. Please pray for wisdom for me.”

Okoye, a Democrat, hails from Enugwu-Aguleri in Anambra. He was a Planning Commissioner in Gwinnett County, the second-most populous local government in Georgia, and is the first black man to serve as a commissioner in the county’s 202-year history.

Also celebrating his victory, Phil Olaleye, via his official Twitter handle @Phil4Georgia tweeted, “Thank you for all your support—your prayers, your resources and your beliefs. I’m honored to be Representative-elect for Georgia State House District 59!”

Solomon Adesanya, who emerged as the state House of Representatives District 43, state of Georgia, in the same vein, said, “I am committed to working tirelessly to provide immediate and long-term solutions to my constituents and every Georgian.”

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated eight Nigerian-Americans on their victory during the midterm elections in the United States on Wednesday.

In a statement signed by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the president was quoted as having prayed for a successful tenure for the Nigerians.

It read in part, “President Muhammadu Buhari extends his warmest congratulations to eight Nigerian-Americans on their victory in the U.S. midterm elections. In Georgia State, Segun Adeyina, Gabe Okoye, Solomon Adesanya, Tish Naghise, and Phil Olaleye won their legislative seats as State Representatives in their districts.

“Likewise, Carol Kazeem was re-elected as Pennsylvania State Representative in District 159, Esther Agbaje was re-elected as Minnesota State Representative in District 59B, and Dr. Oye Owolewa was re-elected to the United States House of Representatives (Shadow Representative) in Washington, D.C.”

Notably, a Pennsylvania state representative who died in October, Anthony DeLuca, was reelected during the United States midterm elections.

Fox News reported that DeLuca died on October 9, 2022, “after a brief battle with lymphoma, a disease he twice previously beat.”

The 85-year-old Democrat was Pennsylvania’s longest-serving state representative before his death.

GOGAN TV