Buhari is Shy Around Opposite Sex. Presidential Aide

Some insight has been provided into President Muhammadu Buhari’s aversion for women and the low number of female appointments since he assumed office, with his Senior Special Assistant, Political Matters, Mr. Gideon Samani, disclosing that the president did not include many women in his cabinet because he is “very shy dealing with the opposite sex”.

Samani, who spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the fifth annual lecture series organised by the Change We Need in Nigeria group, said Buhari was used to interacting with men, but added quickly that the issue of gender inequality would be addressed by the president.

His statement contrasted with that of a ministerial nominee from Kogi State, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN), who in defence of the low representation of women in the federal cabinet, told the Senate on Thursday that Buhari had brought women into prominence, including the late Prof. Dora Akunyili.

According to Samani, “If you are close to Mr. President, you will know that he has the interest of the nation as his uppermost priority.  He did not intentionally marginalise women.

“It is just that Mr. President is shy with women. He has been interacting mostly with men. I can assure you that in the shortest time, this issue of gender inequality will be dealt with.”

Samani, who was once a Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly and represented the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal at the event, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost the last election to the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to insecurity, economic challenges and corruption in high places, thereby forcing the people to seek for change.
“The change we seek is real and not mere rhetoric. People must feel it, touch it, and experience it across the different strata of our society – in schools, churches, market places and at all our duty posts.

“It is not going to be business as usual. Many guilty Nigerians, of their own accord, have fled the country. Our public institutions are now working.

“The availability of fuel and the generation and distribution of power have improved ever since. All hands must be on deck for all of us to be these agents of change,” he stated.

Speaking at the event, Senator Chris Anyanwu expressed disappointment with the appointments made so far by the president, stating that despite the fact that the number one citizen benefitted immensely from female voters, he has relegated them to the background.

She noted that so far, no woman from the South-east had been given a political appointment and that even the numbers of women in Buhari’s government is a far cry from what obtains worldwide.

“Mr. President has benefitted so much from us. We don’t expect him to draw us back. Women are able and strong to move this nation forward. Anything you do, you should know that the whole world is watching you.

“So far, women have been marginalised. No woman from the east has been given a political appointment and the ones he did were a far cry to what is obtainable anywhere in the world.

“We talk of change but we are afraid of the change. We have moved from the era where women clapped and danced for male politicians. President Buhari should be gender sensitive. He should open the door and let women rise up to their full potential,” she said.

The senator added that gender equality should begin with parents by treating their children equally.

Primary  Source.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/presidential-aide-buhari-is-shy-around-the-opposite-sex/223525/

Buhari Appoints New INEC Chiarman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

THE National Council of States (NCS) rose from its first meeting under the administration of Muhammadu Buhari with the ratification of the recommendation of the President for the appointment of the immediate past Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

The Council also approved the recommendation to name the Ag. Chairman of the Commission, Amina Bala Zakari, a former Ag. Chairman of the Commission, Prince Solomon Adedeji Soyebi, Dr. Muhammad Mustapha Lekki and Dr. Taiye Okoosi-Simbile as National Commissioners.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, which lasted for about one hour inside the Council Chambers, Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal along side his Abia State counterpart, Dr. Ifeanyi Ikpeazu, Tambuwal said the action of the President followed the massive retirements of most of the National Commissioners in place during the last dispensation.

Yakubu, a Professor of History served as the Assistant Secretary in charge of Finance and Administration in the just concluded National Conference. If their appointment is ratified by the Senate, Mrs. Zakari from Jigawa State and Soyebi from Ogun State would be serving their second term as National Commissioner of INEC. While Zakari’s term just ended, that of Soyebi, who handed over to the immediate past Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega as Ag. Chairman, following the sacking of Prof. Maurice Iwu in 2011, is staging his second come back.

Sourced From Guardian News

Ministerial Screening: 18 Ministers Confirmed.

The Nigerian Senate has formally confirmed as ministers 18 nominees who were by it between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Those whose appointments have been  formally confirmed are Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Udo Udoma, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Dr Osagie Ehanire, Lt. Gen. Abdurahman Dambazau, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Amina Mohammed, Engr. Suleiman Adamu and Ibrahim Usman Jibril.

Also confirmed as ministers were Babatunde Raji Fashola,the current group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Abubakar Malami, SAN,  the former governor of Anambra state Dr Chris Ngige and Senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan.

The appointments of Kemi Adeosun, Hadi Sirika and Solomon Dalong were also confirmed as ministers.

Sourced From Guardian  News.

"Ebola Scare Not Real" Federal Government

The Federal Government on Friday dispelled speculation of a suspected fresh case Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Calabar, Cross River, and urged Nigerians to observe good hygiene behaviour.

Mr Linus Awute, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, allayed the public fear of the rumour while briefing newsmen in Abuja.

Awute said the rumours have been making round since Wednesday Oct. 7, until government agencies concluded investigation of the case.

He said the ministry monitored the latest speculation and found out that it was a case of the death of a 21-year-old student of the University of Calabar.

He said the deceased patient was brought into the causality ward of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) by the mother and other family members on Oct. 7.

Awute said the deceased was admitted at about one o’clock in the morning and was investigated clinically and tested in the laboratory to determine his ailment.

“He was admitted with bleeding, diarrhoea, vomiting, skin rashes and mouth lesions. His temperature on admission was 37 degrees centigrade and vital signs were stable.

“The parents said that the patient had never travelled out of Calabar, on the basis of signs and symptoms; a tentative diagnosis of viral Hemorrhagic fever to rule out Lassa fever was made.

“Some of his family members had a history of chicken pox a week to his falling ill,’’ the permanent secretary said.

Awute said that the deceased was treated with antipyretics and antibiotics during the course of his illness and he also received intravenous fluids.

“Sadly, at exactly 8.15 p.m., seven hours post-admission, the patient passed on,’’ Awute said.

According to him, 15 health workers and eight patients who had direct or indirect contact with the deceased patient were quarantined.

He added that other hospital workers were provided with thermometers to monitor their temperature twice daily.

The permanent secretary said that blood sample collected from the patient was taken to Irrua Lassa Fever Specialist Hospital for laboratory confirmation of the cause of the disease.

“Tests were run on the blood sample throughout the night and this morning the result confirmed that the deceased was negative for both Ebola and Lassa fever viral diseases.

“Additional tests using next generation sequencing methods are currently being carried out at the Redeemers University African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Ede, Osun state.

“This is to confirm which virus must have caused the infection and death and the result is expected on Monday Oct. 12, 2015,’’ he said.

Awute urged Nigerians to collaborate with the federal ministry of health and the entire healthcare teams to report any suspected case to avoid reintroduction of Ebola into the country.

He said this incidence has once again demonstrated that the fight against Ebola must be a perfect team work based on effective collaboration between government and other stakeholders.

LaCasara Reinstates 700 Retrenched Workers

The National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE, on Friday confirmed that La Casera Company Plc has reinstated the 700 workers it sacked in September.
The head of Education Department of NUFBTE, Mike Olarenwaju, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Mr. Olarenwaju said the management of the company met with union members to resolve the dispute and that the workers had been asked to start work.
He said officials of the union would meet with the workers next week to finalise issues with the in-house union.
La Casera management had disengaged the workers over the alleged invasion of the premises by hoodlums.
At least 1,300 workers, consisting of 700 staff members and 600 casual workers, arrived at the office on September 14 to find information pasted on the gate that their jobs had been terminated.
It was not immediately clear whether the 600 casual workers were also recalled.
The union officials picketed the company for unlawful sack and denial of the workers’ right to be unionised.
The company had before the incident filed a motion at the National Industrial Council (NIC) where the union also took the case to.
After hearing the matter, the court granted the union its plea for an Order of Interim injunction restraining the management from terminating the appointments of the workers till the determination of the suit.
‎
The court decision signed by the honourable judge, O.A. Obaseki- Osaghae, however directed that all parties to “maintain the peace and take no action that will lead to a breakdown of law and order”.
The case was adjourned to Oct. 19 for hearing of the two pending motions.
(NAN)

Sport Major: Vincent Enyeama Retires from Nigeria Football Team.

One of Nigeria’s best goalkeepers, Vincent Enyeama has said that he is no longer a player with Nigeria’s senior football team, Super Eagles. Enyeama who took to his Instagram page,  ‘vinny 2908’, said he has served Nigeria his best while in the pitch and now, has retired from active play with Eagles to focus on his club career.
“I have fought a good fight for more than 13 years. I have finished my course, I have kept the faith and sang the anthem with passion. henceforth, there is laid for me a crown which only GOD can reward me for my 13 years of national services. God bless NIgeria.
“Henceforth, I am no more the captain of the NIgerian senior football team, I am no more the goalie of the team. I am out of the team. I am no more available for international duties.
“I want to say thank you to every Nigerian fan and supporter world wide. It’s been the most trying period of my life but I know that Nigerians are there for me and God is with me. God bless NIgeria,” he said.
Recall that the former Eagles captain was recently stripped of that title by the Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh and handed over to CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa, following an altercation between them.
Although Oliseh has said the rift between him and Enyeama has been sewn, he insisted that his decision of stripping the former Eagles captain of his title was based on discipline. ‘’I want a captain who is disciplined. A leader who can motivate other players. A player who  comes to camp early. I want a young player not a retiring player as captain. And Ahmed Musa is that player. He is my captain.’’
“The fact is that I would like to have somebody (as captain) who is thinking of playing now and not somebody who is preparing for retirement or thinking of life after-football. And I think it’s time we had peace and quiet around the Super Eagles. That is why I am glad that most of the players here are finding ways to work as a team because I get the feeling now that they are aware that they are representing 170 million people’’, Oliseh said on Brila.

FIFA: Hayatou Steps in as Temporal President

African football leader Issa Hayatou on Thursday took temporary charge of FIFA after Sepp Blatter was “relieved of his duties” because of his 90-day suspension, the world body said.

Hayatou, 69, is president of the Confederation of African Football, and takes over as senior vice president of FIFA. He has in the past been reprimanded for misconduct by the International Olympic Committee.

“Joseph S. Blatter was relieved of all his duties as FIFA president” after the move by the FIFA ethics committee to suspend him for 90 days because he is under criminal investigation by Swiss prosecutors, FIFA said.

Sourced from Guardian News