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Tag: Chief of Staff

  • Photos: Social distancing rule flagrantly violated as Buhari’s late CoS, Kyari is buried in Abuja

    Photos: Social distancing rule flagrantly violated as Buhari’s late CoS, Kyari is buried in Abuja

    The global social distancing rule enforced by nations (Nigeria inclusive) to eliminate and stop further spread of the novel coronavirus [COVID-19] seems to have been thrown out of the window during the brief burial rites for President Muhammadu Buhari’s late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari on Saturday in Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the federal, state, local governments NGOs, and corporate organisations have for long stressed the need to avoid public gatherings or strictly maintain the social distancing rule in extreme cases that one must go out.

    However, some top government functionaries and other politicians freely interacted and held body contacts before, during and after the burial which held at Gudu Cementry, Abuja.

    TNG reports that Kyari’s death was announced early Saturday morning by the presidency. He died of complications from the deadly virus while receiving treatment at a Lagos hospital.

    NCDC warns against mass gatherings during burial

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has however warned against mass gatherings as the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and other victims of the COVID-19 pandemic are buried.

    The agency via its verified Twitter account on Saturday warned that such mass gatherings could further escalate the spread of the virus.

    Violators of social distancing rule must be punished – Netizens

    Meanwhile social media users, particularly on popular microblogging and social networking site, Twitter have expressed concerns over the flagrant disregard for the social distancing rule during Kyari’s burial. The angry netizens insisted that if popular nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, her husband and well wishers could be prosecuted for organising a birthday during the lockdown in Lagos, those in Abuja should not be above the law.

    See some of the reactions below:

    https://twitter.com/cliqik/status/1251465329026502656?s=20

    https://twitter.com/Thatnaijayarn/status/1251456055650979841?s=20

    https://twitter.com/mrmanhere_/status/1251469372511617024?s=20

    https://twitter.com/henryshield/status/1251464654594936832?s=20

  • [Leaked Memo] Buhari’s CoS, Abba Kyari raises alarm over lawmakers refusal to be screened at airports says they constitute grave danger to Nigerians

    [Leaked Memo] Buhari’s CoS, Abba Kyari raises alarm over lawmakers refusal to be screened at airports says they constitute grave danger to Nigerians

    Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari has raised alarm over the refusal of some lawmakers who just returned from foreign trips to be screened at the nation’s airports.

    Kyari in a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila said the issue was reported to his office by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire.

    The letter dated Saturday, 21st March, 2020 tagged confidential and obtained exclusively by TheNewsGuru.com, was signed by Kyari himself.

    Kyari in clear terms told the Speaker to order all lawmakers who just returned from foreign trips to submit themselves for compulsory screening at any of the NCDC centres nearest to them.

    TNG reports that as at Sunday night, the number of coronavirus cases in the country had increased from 27 to 31 with three new cases in Lagos and Atiku’s son who tested positive.

     

     

     

  • Gbajabiamila's Chief of Staff loses father

    The Chief of Staff to the Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Speaker,Zamfara State House of Assembly,Hon. Sanusi Rikiji has lost his father, Alhaji Garba Rikiji.
    He died at the age of 80.
    Alhaji Garba Rikiji, who until his death was a community leader ,philanthropist and an industrialist hailed from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State. He contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of Zamfara State and was until his death was the Chairman, Rikiji and Sons Group of Companies.
    Alhaji Garba Rikiji is survived by wives and children among whom are Rt. Hon. Sanusi Rikiji, Alhaji Lawali Garba Rikiji, Chairman Danmaikyau and Sons limited and others.He has been buried according to Islamic rites in Gusau.

  • Gov. El-Rufai appoints Chief of Staff, 7 other aides

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has appointed Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, the immediate past Commissioner for Planning and Budget, as Chief of Staff.
    This was contained in a statement by Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner-Designate, Internal Security and Home Affairs, on Friday in Kaduna.
    The statement said the governor also appointed seven other officials, including new heads of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
    According to the statement, Bala Yunusa will serve as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Legislative, Hamza Abubakar as Executive Secretary, SPHCDA and Ben Kure, Special Adviser, Political Matters.
    Others are Dr Omano Edigheji, Special Adviser, Research and Documentation and Maimuna Abubakar Zakari, Executive Secretary, SEMA.
    The governor also appointed Dr Habiba Ibrahim Mohammed as Special Assistant, Geographic Information Service and Jamilu Albani, Director-General, Interfaith Matters.
    Abdullahi, the new chief of staff, was appointed Commissioner for Planning and Budget in 2015 and served in that capacity throughout the first term of Gov. El-Rufai.
    He had served as a Policy Adviser in the Executive Office of United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon in New York and was a member of the Secretary General’s core team that designed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
    In 2018, Muhammad was appointed as a member of the World Bank’s Advisory Council on Citizen Engagement.

  • Gov. Ganduje appoints Makoda as Chief of Staff

    Gov. Ganduje appoints Makoda as Chief of Staff

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has appointed the immediate past Commissioner for Environment, Ali Makoda, as Chief of Staff.

    This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abba Anwar, on Thursday in Kano.
    ‎
    The governor congratulated the new appointee and enjoined him to re-dedicate himself to the service of the people.‎
    ‎
    Ganduje also acknowledged Makoda’s immense contribution to the development of the state, and commended him for his immeasurable commitment towards the feats achieved in his first tenure in office.

    “Ali Haruna Makoda is always an asset to our dear state. Hence the need for carrying him along in my second tenure in office,” the governor said.‎

    Makoda holds‎ B.A. Library/Political Science, Postgraduate Diploma in Management and Masters in Business Administration (MBA), from Bayero University, Kano.

  • Ogun Governor swears in SSG, Chief of Staff

    Ogun Governor swears in SSG, Chief of Staff

    Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun on Monday swore in Mr Olatokunbo Talabi and Alhaji Salisu Shuaib as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the Chief of Staff, respectively.

    The ceremony was held at the Conference Room of the Governor’s Office at Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta.

    Abiodun, at the ceremony, disclosed that appointment of the duo came after a careful search, diligent considerations and wide consultations.

    The governor gave assurance that the rich experience they both possessed in the private and public sectors would complement the good governance vision of his administration.

    He urged the appointees to use their academic and wealth of experience to serve the people of Ogun.

    The governor, who noted that the two offices would determine the success or failure of any government, urged the duo to consider their appointments as `a sacrifice to the people’.

    “As I join all our people to congratulate you on these well-deserved appointments, it is also important to remind you that it is a call to service and we expect you to consider this as a sacrifice to your people.

    “Ogun State and its people expect from you unreserved commitment and dedication to duty,” he said.

    Abiodun said that more appointments would be made to ensure that the dividends of democracy were delivered to the people, and no part of the state would be denied representation in his administration.

    “Let me state that these two appointments are just some of the appointments that we will be making to ensure we deliver the dividends of democracy to our people.

    “Let me assure you all that no part or group in this state will be denied its fair representation in this administration, and we will not sacrifice merit,” he said.

    Talabi, who spoke on behalf of the duo, thanked the governor for the confidence he reposed in them.

    He said that they would be loyal to the government and abide by every word of the oath of office they took.

    Talabi said that they would operate an open door policy and support the good governance vision of the state government.

  • Adeboye’s Chief of Staff, Pastor Olorunnimbe is dead

    Adeboye’s Chief of Staff, Pastor Olorunnimbe is dead

    Pastor Adetokunbo Olorunnimbe, the Chief-of-Staff and Chief Private Secretary to Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has been confirmed dead.

    Olorunnimbe died on Saturday, March 30th 2019, at the age of 60.

    According to a statement by the family, Olorunnimbe’s burial arrangements will be announced soon.

    “Tokunbo was deeply devoted to the life of the church. He served in many ways at the Redeemed Christian Church of God: He served as the pastor of several parishes and was pastor of RCCG City of Palms,” the statement read.

    “As Private Secretary to the General Overseer, he was a highly trusted and respected member of the church.

    “He never wanted praise for any of his labour of love, but always saw his service to the church, to the community, and to his family as a way of sharing his love for God.

    ”Tokunbo was trained as a lawyer in the University of Lagos and Cambridge University. He was stimulated by cerebral debates and was a man who was always up for the adventure of life.

    “But no matter what he was doing, he enjoyed his time with his family – including his church family – more than anything.

    “Tokunbo Olorunnimbe is survived by his wife Dr Modupe Olorunnimbe, their children: Folasayo Williams, Laolu Olorunnimbe and son in law Bode Williams. His legacy of love and life lives on in his surviving grandchildren: Olasheni and Oluwateniola Williams.

    “Tokunbo Olorunnimbe is also survived by his father Hon. Justice I. A. Olorunnimbe, OON, brothers, sisters, aunties, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.”

  • 2019: Amosun’s chief of staff, seven other aides resign

    No fewer than eight aides of the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, have tendered their resignation letters as the 2019 elections approach.

    Those who tendered their resignation letters were; Amosun’s Chief of Staff, Tolu Odebiyi, and the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Afolabi Afuape.

    Others who resigned from their appointments were Special Assistants to the governor – Lanre Edun, Tola Banjo, Bolanle Gbeleyi, Muse Lamidi, Bayo Adeyemi, Sunday Bamiwola, Dewunmi Onanuga and Sola Arobieke.

    The governor, in a statement by the Director of Administration and Supplies, Bureau of Political Affairs and Administration, Office of the Governor, Mr. Samuel Oluwasanmi, said he had accepted the notice of disengagement from all of them.

    Odebiyi, in a statement he personally signed, said his resignation was to pursue his senatorial ambition.

    However, it was reliably gathered that Odebiyi reportedly disagreed with his former boss, who was said to have advised him to defect from the APC to the Allied People’s Movement.

    Odebiyi was, however, advised to resign so as not to heat up the polity as many of the loyalists had defected to APM.

    In the statement, Odebiyi expressed deep appreciation to Amosun for the opportunity given him to serve the people of the state.

    Meanwhile, as the deadline by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the substitution of governorship, deputy governorship and state House of Assembly candidates ends tomorrow, Amosun and his loyalists may have perfected plans to defect to the APM.

  • Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Kyari, INEC Chairman meet in Aso Rock

    The Chief of Staff (COS) to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, on Friday met behind closed doors with the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu.
     
    The meeting, which was held at the COS office, lasted for about thirty minutes.
     
    The agenda of the meeting was not made public.
     
    Yakubu did not speak with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting. The Presidency also has yet to issue a statement on the meeting as of the time of filing this report.
     
    The meeting was however held barely 24 hours after the electoral commission published the names of presidential candidates contesting the 2019 election and their details.
     
    President Muhammadu Buhari will be seeking a second term on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
     
    The President, a former military ruler, had claimed in his details published by INEC that his credentials were with the Secretary of the Military Board.
     
    Since the claim was made public, it has been generating controversy the same way it did when Buhari made the same claim ahead of the 2015 presidential election which he won. Some of his supporters had at the time said even if he presented “NEPA bill” in lieu of credentials, they would still vote for him against the then President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party.
     
    Jonathan lost that election to Buhari. But in the 2019 election, Buhari’s main challenger is former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.

  • Osun 2018: Aregbesola’s Chief of Staff, Oyetola wins APC governorship ticket

    Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola has been declared winner of the Osun All Progressives Congress governorship primary, ahead of the 22 September election in the state.

    In the direct primary which held on Friday, the incumbent Chief of Staff polled 127,017 votes as against his closest rival and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun who scored 21,000. Speaker of the Osun House of Assembly Nojeem Salaam came third.

    Oyetola, who is a cousin to the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been Governor Aregbesola’s chief of staff since 2010.

    Announcing the results at about 10:45 pm on Friday at the party’s secretariat in Osogbo Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege said Oyetola, scored 127,017 votes.

    Omo-Agege, who represented Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, the Chairman of the Election committee, said that Mr Lasun Yussuff, Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives came second with 21,975 votes.

    ” Having won the majority votes, I declared Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola as the official flag bearer for the Sept. 22 governorship election”, Omo-Agege said.

    He commended all other aspirants for displaying maturity during the exercise.

    Omo-Agege who described the election as a family contest, said there was no victor and no vanquished.

    The direct primary was conducted in 332 wards across the state.

    Meanwhile, some aspirants have expressed their dissatisfaction at the process, with some insisting to challenge it in court.

    One of the aspirants, who participated in the primary, Mr. Kunle Adegoke, described the exercise as a charade, saying it was skewed to favour the winner.

    Adegoke said, “What we experienced in Osun today is not a primary in any way. It was a charade and it was in contravention of basic tenets of democracy.

    “I will not dump the party because of the issues. I will remain in the party and correct this anomaly by challenging the process in court.”

    He lamented that the party conducted the primary without a verifiable membership database despite using the direct primary method instead of a delegate system.

    He also alleged that hoodlums were used to harass and coerce members of the party to vote for Oyetola and that those that resisted were beaten by the thugs.

    Among the 17 aspirants who contested for the party’s ticket, several withdrew at the last minute. They were Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, who is the Secretary to State Government, Sen. Babajide Omoworare, representing Osun East at the Senate and Mr Peter Babalola, Chairman of State Civil Service Commission.