Shake up in presidency as Buhari sacks First Lady’s aide

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved reorganisation of the workforce in the Office of the First Lady, leading to the sack of a political appointee, redeployment of three and appointment of a new one.

Buhari appointed renowned journalist and former member of the House of Representatives, Muhammad Sani Zorro, as his new Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs and Strategy deployed in the Office of the First Lady.

A statement on Saturday morning by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, disclosed that three of the aides of the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari, were redeployed, at her request, from her office to that of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

The statement also said the President has approved the immediate disengagement of his Special Assistant on Domestic and Social Events in the Office of the First Lady, Zainab Kazeem.

The reason for Kazeem’s sack is yet to be ascertained.

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Those redeployed to the OSGF from the Office of the First Lady are: Dr. Mohammed Kamal Abdulrahman, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Health and Development Partners and Personal Physician to the First Lady; Hadi Uba, Special Assistant to the President on Administration; and Wole Aboderin, Special Assistant to the President on Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Muhammad Sani Zorro, journalist, politician and former lawmaker, as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs and Strategy, Office of the First Lady.

“At the instance of the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, the President has also approved the immediate redeployment of three of the political appointees in her office to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, pending their assignment to some other government departments or agencies.

“Those affected by the redeployment are: Dr. Mohammed Kamal Abdulrahman, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Health and Development Partners and Personal Physician to the First Lady; Hadi Uba, Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Wole Aboderin, Special Assistant to the President on Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs.

“Also approved with effect from 11th February is the disengagement of Zainab Kazeem, the Special Assistant to the President on Domestic and Social Events, Office of the First Lady.

“Zorro, a famous journalist, brings to the new job decade-long experience in media practice, publishing and unionist leadership.

“He was at various times President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, West African Journalists Association (WAJA) and the Federation of African Journalists, FAJ.

“He was in the House of Representatives where he chaired the committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Refugees and Initiatives on North East,” the statement reads.