Abia-Born, Nwachinemere Kalu-Agba, Re-Elected as Deputy Mayor of Orangeburg, South Carolina, U.S., In Another Landmark Leadership Achievement

A Nigerian-born public official, Nwachinemere Kalu-Agba, has been re-elected as the Deputy Mayor (Mayor Pro Tem) of the City of Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States, securing another two-year term that will run until 2027.

The announcement of his return to office was made public on Sunday through a Facebook post by Peter Agba Kalu, who congratulated him and called on Nigerians and supporters around the world to join in celebrating the milestone.

Kalu-Agba, who also represents his district as a City Council member, previously held the Deputy Mayor position until he stepped aside following the enforcement of a new state law which introduced a strict two-year tenure limit for the Mayor Pro Tem office. The new legislation stipulates that no individual can be re-elected immediately after serving a term, mandating a full tenure cycle before a former holder can return.

Following the completion of that required cycle by his successor, Kalu-Agba once again became eligible, leading to his recent re-election. With this development, he is set to serve concurrently as both Deputy Mayor and City Council Representative, maintaining significant influence in local policy formulation and community governance.

Kalu-Agba’s current four-year mandate as a City Council member expires in 2027, at which point he is expected to decide whether to seek another term or retire from elected public office. The news of his re-election has continued to attract celebration across community groups, diaspora forums, and social platforms, with many describing it as yet another positive testament to Nigerians excelling in international political leadership.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, a former Mayor of Blanco City in Texas, United States of America, Mike Arnold, has challenged the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar III, to provide evidence that he is not involved in what Arnold described as “jihad genocide” and widespread killings in the country.

Reports has it that Arnold, the founder of Africa Arise International, released a series of social media posts alleging that the Sultan is complicit in mass killings and resource looting in certain parts of northern Nigeria.

However, the Sultanate Council of Sokoto dismissed the allegations as baseless and undeserving of a formal response, stating that the revered monarch would not dignify such claims.

Speaking further, the former Mayor claimed that “data and incidents across the northern part of the country suggested that the Sultan cannot be totally detached from violent acts occurring in the region,” questioning what he called the Sultan’s “silence and inaction” amid recurring violent attacks, particularly those said to be targeting Christians.

According to him, “The evidence points to there being an intelligent designer of this whole diabolical machine of jihad, genocide, conquest, displacement, and resource extraction. There are many provable data points, and I believe the points paint a picture that demands the Sultan be investigated for these things.”

He added, “I am not declaring him guilty, only a prime suspect based on all available evidence. The facts demand investigation and answers to either determine his guilt or clear him of it. Let’s hear his case.”

Continuing, he stated, “The Nigerian government estimates that at least $9bn a year in minerals are looted from his own hereditary lands. Why hasn’t he tried to stop this? He has powerful armed militias under his authority, does he not? So why aren’t the illicit miners being stopped? Who is getting that money?”

Arnold further alleged that the Sultan has not taken decisive steps against militant Fulani groups accused of numerous attacks, claiming that while the Sultan once issued a fatwa against Boko Haram after the extremist group challenged his authority, “no similar action had been taken against Fulani militants.”