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Plateau North Youth Coalition Backs Prof. Chris Kwaja’s Senatorial Ambition, Cites Peacebuilding Experience and Inclusive Leadership
The Coalition of Youths of Plateau North Senatorial District has formally endorsed Prof. Chris Kwaja for the Senate seat representing Plateau North Senatorial District, describing him as a visionary leader with the experience, integrity, and competence required to provide purposeful representation for the zone.
The endorsement, which took place on May 16, 2026, in Mista Ali (Mc Alley), Pengana Constituency of Bassa Local Government Area; the home constituency of Prof. Kwaja, brought together youths, stakeholders, and supporters from across the senatorial district. In a jointly signed letter and endorsement address, the coalition said its decision followed careful consideration of his leadership qualities and track record in peacebuilding, governance, youth empowerment, and community development.
Speaking during the event, the coalition praised Kwaja’s extensive local and international experience, noting his contributions in peace and security, governance, diplomacy, and policy development. The group highlighted his role as Country Director for Nigeria at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), his previous service as Director-General of Research and Planning in Plateau State, his tenure as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as well as his engagements with international institutions including the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The youths described him as “a global voice with deep local roots,” adding that his understanding of Plateau State’s social and political realities positioned him to effectively represent the interests of the people at the National Assembly.
The coalition also commended his consistent commitment to youth inclusion, peacebuilding, and inclusive governance, stressing that Plateau North requires a leader capable of bridging generational divides, strengthening unity, and advancing development across the district.
According to the coalition, Prof. Kwaja’s aspiration resonates deeply with the urgent need to break the cycle of poverty and exclusion in society. They noted that his message of leadership is rooted in the conviction that governance must actively dismantle structural poverty and expand opportunities for those at the margins, describing this as central to the motivation behind his political ambition.
In his remarks, Chris Kwaja said his aspiration is driven by a desire to give hope and representation to the less privileged and minority groups within society. He stated that he purchased the senatorial nomination form on behalf of ordinary people who often feel excluded from leadership, emphasizing that “one with God is a majority” and that everyone has the capacity to aspire and lead regardless of background.
He further urged young people, minorities, and all those who feel shut out of opportunity to hold each other up in the pursuit of change, stressing that transformation in society is not an individual journey but a collective responsibility. According to him, solidarity, mutual encouragement, and shared growth among such groups remain essential for building a more inclusive and just society.
Kwaja also challenged those present to reflect on the kind of society they desire and to begin contributing actively to positive change within their immediate communities and spheres of influence. He added that meaningful societal transformation requires collective responsibility and deliberate efforts from citizens at every level, reaffirming that his ambition is centered on improving the lives and opportunities of people across Plateau North Senatorial District.
Reflecting on his previous service in government, Kwaja recalled his time as Director-General of Research and Documentation and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under the administration of former Governor Jonah Jang. He expressed appreciation to Da Jonah Jang for the opportunity to serve Plateau State, noting that the experience provided him with a platform to apply his knowledge and expertise in governance and public service for the benefit of the people.
The senatorial hopeful further emphasized the need to involve more young people in governance and decision-making processes, stressing that the future belongs to the youth and that they must be given space to participate actively in shaping society. He also noted that individuals should not limit themselves based on their background, drawing attention to the idea that greatness can emerge from unexpected places. He referenced the biblical account of Jesus, where people questioned, “Is this not the son of the carpenter?”, yet He went on to perform great wonders and is recognized as the Messiah, carrying the message and purpose of God.
He added that victory is not merely about winning elections, but about ensuring that the voices of the people are not silenced. According to him, collective voices and shared civic engagement are what society needs to drive meaningful change and build a better future.
The event ended with a formal declaration of support by the Coalition of Youths of Plateau North Senatorial District, which reaffirmed its commitment to mobilizing support for Chris Kwaja’s senatorial bid under the vision slogan: “Voices – People! Voices! Mandate! Impact!”
Super Eagles goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo continued his impressive start to life at Charlton Athletic, keeping a clean sheet on his home debut as the English Championship side defeated Preston North End 1–0.
Sports247 reports that the Nigerian goalkeeper delivered another composed performance between the posts, helping Charlton secure maximum points at home and maintain their strong start to the new campaign.
Okonkwo joined Charlton on a season-long loan from Wrexham and has wasted little time making an impression. After producing a standout display in his first appearance during Charlton’s 2–1 away victory over West Ham, the 24-year-old followed it up with another assured outing against Preston.
His latest performance was particularly important as Charlton protected their narrow advantage until the final whistle. Okonkwo remained focused throughout the encounter and helped ensure that Preston were unable to find a way past him.
The clean sheet also represents another significant milestone for the goalkeeper as he continues to establish himself in the highly competitive Championship.
Okonkwo’s statistics from his opening two league appearances tell the story of a promising beginning: Two games, two wins, nine saves and a clean sheet — Arthur Okonkwo is making an early statement in the Championship.
The goalkeeper’s eight-save performance against West Ham proved crucial in securing victory on his debut, while his home display against Preston demonstrated his consistency and ability to provide stability from the back.
For Charlton, Okonkwo’s arrival appears to have strengthened an important position, with the goalkeeper already contributing directly to two victories.
The early performances will also be welcomed by Nigerian supporters, particularly as Okonkwo continues his development and seeks to strengthen his position within the Super Eagles setup.
Although the Championship season remains long and demanding, the former Wrexham goalkeeper has given Charlton plenty of reasons to be optimistic about his contribution.
His confidence, shot-stopping ability and composure have been evident from the opening two fixtures, while the clean sheet on his home debut provides further evidence of his growing influence.
Charlton will now look to build on their positive start, with Okonkwo expected to remain a key part of their plans as the season progresses.
OpenAI has notified SpaceX of its intention to terminate its contract to provide OpenAI models to Cursor, citing concerns over compliance with its terms of service.
The AI company said in a statement on Friday that it intends to wind down the contract by 12 November, giving SpaceX the maximum notice period permitted under the agreement.
The notice to end the contract followed Elon Musk-owned SpaceX’s acquisition of Anysphere, the developer of AI coding platform Cursor, for about $60 billion, despite OpenAI having worked with Cursor for nearly four years.
OpenAI said the decision followed concerns that SpaceX may not use its technology in accordance with its terms of service, citing what it described as previous contract violations involving companies owned by Mr Musk.
“This decision was incredibly tough, as we care deeply about our models being broadly available for developers.
“We are making this choice because we cannot be confident that SpaceX will use our technology within our terms of service, based on our experience with Elon Musk’s companies violating contracts,” OpenAI said.
Agreements
The company said its agreements with large partners typically include customised provisions designed to ensure compliance with its terms of service and safety requirements.
According to OpenAI, after Mr Musk acquired Twitter, now known as X, the social media company breached the terms of its contract with OpenAI, alongside contracts with other companies.
OpenAI also cited an admission by Mr Musk under oath earlier this year that xAI, which OpenAI said is now part of SpaceX, had violated its terms of service.
The company said its custom agreement with Cursor contains a limited period within which it can terminate the contract following a change of control.
OpenAI said the advancement of AI capabilities had also increased its responsibility to ensure that its forthcoming model, Astra, is deployed in accordance with its terms.
“As AI capabilities advance, we also have a new level of accountability to ensure our upcoming model, Astra, is being used in accordance with our terms,” the company said.
OpenAI said it had decided to allow the contract to remain in place until the latest possible termination date while withholding future models from Cursor.
It acknowledged that developers who rely on OpenAI models through Cursor would be most affected by the decision and said it was prepared to provide additional support during the transition.
The termination will affect Cursor’s access to OpenAI models, although the coding platform also offers models from other AI companies.
Rivalry
Meanwhile, responding to the proposed contract termination, Mr Musk said he was indifferent to the decision and described OpenAI’s leadership as “untrustworthy.”
The rivalry between Mr Musk and OpenAI’s leadership dates back to 2018, when Mr Musk left the company’s board following disagreements over its direction.
ALSO READ: OpenAI admits its system autonomously hacked another company
Mr Musk was a co-founder and early backer of OpenAI, which was established in 2015 as a nonprofit focused on developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity.
After ChatGPT launched in November 2022, Mr Musk warned that “we are not far from dangerously strong AI.”
OpenAI launched its paid ChatGPT Plus subscription in February 2023, while the company had already established a for-profit entity in March 2019 as part of its efforts to raise capital for AI development.
In 2024, Mr Musk sued OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman, and President Greg Brockman, alleging that they had abandoned the company’s nonprofit mission by pursuing a for-profit structure.
However, a federal jury in May 2026 rejected his claims after finding that he had waited too long to bring the lawsuit; the judge subsequently accepted the jury’s decision and dismissed the claims.
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