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Nothing abnormal about presidential aides contracting COVID-19 – Presidency

The Presidency says there is nothing abnormal for presidential aides testing positive to COVID-19, “and are now on self isolation in their respective abodes”.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who stated this when he appeared on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, said such incidents only “confirmed that the presidential aides are human and not immune to happenings around them”.

Society gazette had on Saturday reported that some presidential aides had tested positive to Coronavirus.

Mr Adesina’s statement is the first subtle confirmation that presidency has been hit by the scourge according to sources who spoke with Premium Times.

Society gazette had reported how the rampaging coronavirus pandemic hit Nigeria’s State House, as some administration officials and aides of President Muhammadu Buhari have contracted the virus.

But the Nigerian government had kept sealed lips on the matter until the news broke out.

Presidency sources named those believed to have been infected by the virus to include the Permanent Secretary in the State House, Tijani Umar; the President’s aide-de-camp (ADC), Yusuf Dodo; his chief security officer (CSO), Aliyu Musa, and his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu.

One source included the minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on the list. But the minister later told PREMIUM TIMES he was neither infected nor down with the virus.

But Mr Shehu, who confirmed that he was “afflicted by the mild variant of the COVID-19,” in a text message shared with our reporter on Saturday, said he has “no confirmation” of other cases mentioned to him.

He added that he was already fit, claiming he just completed his physical exercises when our reporter called, but that it would require scientific evidence to claim that he no longer had the virus.

His message read in part; “I have no confirmation of the cases you mentioned, but yes I have been afflicted by the mild variant of the COVID-19. I felt okay from the beginning, maybe because one had received all three jabs, and right now, I feel 100 per cent. I just finished my hour-long running exercise.

“But the strange thing about this ailment is that it is the scientists, not you, that will say you are okay. Right now, I’m taking my prescriptions and isolating, and would go back for a test to ascertain if the virus is still here or it has left me. Thanks for your goodwill.”

Efforts to get the reaction of Mr Garba’s colleague and special adviser on media and publicity to the president, Mr Adesina, on the matter, then were unsuccessful as his phone always indicated “busy” when called many times, and he also did not reply to a short message sent to him, many hours after.

‘Presidential aides human’
Meanwhile, Mr Adesina in his reaction to Channels TV said: “Well, what I like to say is that presidential aides are just human. They can fall sick. If anything happens to human beings it can also happen to presidential aides.

”The fact that we are presidential aides does not make us to be immune to certain things. If there is a virus that is ravaging society. Well, it can touch anybody.

”So Malam Garba Shehu has confirmed that, yes, he tested positive but he said it’s mild. And I believe that by now, because it’s happened since Wednesday, by now, he should almost have beaten it if he had not beat it already. There is no cause for alarm.”

Commenting on his contact with Mr Shehu recently, the media aide said: “Well, I also believe God for the best. If it happens (I get infected), I’ll recover. So that’s it.”

Asked how many of the President’s aides in the State House have been infected, Mr Adesina said: “No. That will not be within my purview to discuss maybe if you get the Presidential doctor or anybody in the medical side, they will tell you.

”I wouldn’t know because, it is a private thing. If it happens to anybody, it is between that person and possibly the doctor. It’s not going to be general knowledge.

”So I may not be able to say.”
Mr Adesina also dismissed the fear being expressed in some quarters over the president’s health following his exposure to his aides believed to have been infected with the virus.

He said: “Well, I think Mr. President is quite fine, he is doing his normal routine, following his normal schedule. But if anybody close to him test positive, that person is required to stay away till he tests again, and he tests negative.”

”So, Mr President is following his normal schedule and routine.” (NAN)

Suspected Ritualist Hits Sex Worker With Charm After Turning Down ‘Foursome’ Request

An unnamed sex worker was reportedly hit with charm by a suspected ritualist at a hotel in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The sex worker was said to have been picked at a hotel by three men who requested that she should have a foursome with them.

The lady reportedly turned down the request and said she could only have sex with two of the men at the same time.

While still negotiating the price and the modus operandi, one of the men was said to have hit the lady with a charm and she was hypnotised and started vomiting blood.

The Field Commander of Amotekun Corps in Osun State, Amitolu Shitu, confirned the incident to journalists on Sunday.

The Amotekun boss said he personally led the team that visited the scene the day the incident happened before the lady started vomiting blood.

He said, “The lady told me she was living with an Indigene of Sagamu, Ogun State at the Ofatedo area.

“She mentioned one Becky as her friend. She said three men had picked her from another hotel in Ofatedo and took her to a hotel around West Bye Pass.

“At the hotel, they told her she would have sex with three of them at the same time, but the lady said she told them she could only have sex with two men

“While arguing with one of the men, the suspected ritualist hit the lady with charm on the head and she became almost unconscious. She was still talking to me when she started vomiting blood.

“It was late and I asked the night guard working in the area to watch over her, while I made an arrangement for an ambulance. By the time I returned to the scene, I was told that her friend, Becky she told me about had brought a bus to pick her and took her away.”

BREAKING: Okorocha’s Son-In-Law Abducted In Owerri Church

Uche Nwosu, son-In-Law to Senator Rochas Okorocha, the former Governor of Imo State, has reportedly been abducted by unknown gunmen on Sunday.

Nwosu was said to be attending a thanksgiving service at the St Peters Anglican Church, Eziama Obire, in Nkwere Local Government Area of Imo State when the incident occurred.

According to reports, the former governorship candidate of the Action Alliance was whisked away to an unknown location by heavily armed men who stormed the church.

This incident came barely five days after his late mother, Jemaimah Nwosu, was laid to rest.

Details of his abduction are still sketchy as at press time.

BREAKING: Gunmen abduct paramount ruler in Plateau

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted the paramount ruler of Gindiri in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Charles Mato Dakat.

It was learnt that the monarch was kidnapped at his residence in the early of Sunday after a heavy gun battle.

The development has thrown the town into a state of panic.

There has been no official statement or confirmation from the police or Operation Safe Haven.

Details shortly….

FRSC van seen with four expired tyres

A motorist, Lemi Jonathan, has called out the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for allowing its officials use a van with four expired tyres.

Jonathan said the officials arrested and booked him because his vehicle tyre had expired.

But when he checked the tyres of their patrol van used, he discovered that four of them were expired.

In a post on his Facebook page, Jonathan highlighted the fact that FRSC was guilty of the same offence he was booked for.

His post reads: “I encountered Road Safety personnel today from Afikpo Command.

“They stopped our vehicles and charged the second car with me with an expired tyre offense.

“I acknowledged the fact that the tyre they saw is above years, but all my pleas fell on deaf ears.

“I got angry at their adamant attitude. They still booked us for the offense.

One of the expired tyres found on an FRSC patrol van
“Then I looked at the tyres of their vehicle and saw that their tyres were all expired.

“I asked their driver how long a tyre should stay before it expires, he said four years.

“I asked him if he was aware that their tyres were all expired, he said he was aware but that they has written to their Command for over a year now but they refused to change the tyres but asked them to manage them.

“How could they be charging me for the same offense they are massively committing?

“Mine was a tyre, theirs were all tyres. He said immunity covers them. How can this be right?”

Garba Shehu, other presidential aides test positive for COVID-19

Indications emerged at the weekend that COVID-19 has crept into the Nigerian Presidential Villa, Abuja, allegedly afflicting some Presidential aides and State House officials.

A number of close aides of President Muhammadu Buhari were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and reportedly asked to self-isolate while taking treatment.

Among those diagnosed with the infection after PCR test results were released are the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu; the Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Yusuf Dodo; and Chief Security Officer (CSO), Aliyu Musa.

Confirming his health status to The Nation on Saturday evening, Shehu said he had been diagnosed with the infection and had been advised to self-isolate, an instruction which he said he was heeding, even as he has been taking his prescribed medication.

He, however, said he had no confirmation about the diagnosis for the other persons mentioned by the online newspaper as being diagnosed with the virus and removed for quarantine.

“Have you read the Premium Times report? What I said in it is the truth to the best of my knowledge; what is true is that I know about myself that I’m self-isolating and taking my medication, but I know of no other case”, Shehu said.

The report also claimed that the Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as well as the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Alhaji Tijani Umar, were also diagnosed with the infection.

However, both the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Mohammed, and the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Umar, have been seen in the Villa on Thursday and Friday.

Meanwhile, it should be pointed out that testing for COVID-19 had recently been ramped up in the Presidential Villa in the wake of the Omicron variant to ensure the containment of the virus.

DR DK OLUKOYA OF MFM LAUNCHES OVER 3O YEARS MUSIC COMPILATIONS CATALOGUE

Today 25th of December 2021, the first choral and solo African art Music compilation will be launched.

This epic event is another mile added to the many achievements of the founder and General overseer of the mountain of fire and Miracles ministry

So, are you a musician? Composer? A classical Music Lover? Its all going down at THE GRACE HALL MFM INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS YABA LAGOS NIGERIA come and experience music like never before

Drug addict set mother ablaze in Niger

A drug addict, Steven Jiya, has set his mother Comfort ablaze in Minna, the Niger State capital, after several failed attempts to kill her.

Comfort was a former Principal at the Maryam Babangida Science College Minna.

She owns a private school, where Steven is the manager.

It was learnt that Steve poured petrol on his mother while she was in the kitchen cooking in her residence behind the Total Filling Station in Durulsalam area of Kpakungu in Minna.

Nigerians React As NFF Meets Mourinho for Super Eagles Job

Nigerians have reacted to the report that Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) contacted AS Roma manager, Jose Mourinho, to take over as Super Eagles coach.
Naija News earlier reported that NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, had said the federation held talks with Mourinho and Serbian Mladen Krstajic in a bid to get a top-class coach for the national team.

Pinnick while speaking with sports journalists in Lagos said the National team would get a new coach within the next week or thereabout.

He further stated that Portuguese Jose Peseiro, a former Real Madrid assistant coach and FC Porto head coach, was on the three-man shortlist for the Eagles coaching job.

Reacting, Nigerians have taken to social media to express their views on the claim made by the NFF president.

Some Twitter users slammed Pinnick and the NFF members for embarking on a fruitless journey while others were unconcerned about the news.

Below are some of the reactions culled online:

@eebig6 wrote: “They met him to advise and refer someone for the Job. According to a rumour, Mourinho suggested Venezuela coach, his fellow Portuguese.”

@kingrichwise wrote: “This man Pinnick wan really take Nigerians do picnic Face with tears of joy
Can’t imagine what even come through his mind or the entire NFF to have to think of approaching Mourinho.
Scam process Police cars revolving light Nigerians should watch out.”

@MosesIbhas wrote: “Africans amazes me. You mean no one is qualified for the job within the nation? Mourinho didn’t wake up to be who he is today, opportunities were given him to prove his worth. If Oliseh failed don’t stop there try anoda retired super eagle and bring the best out him. Wat of JJ?”

@Mikkyoko wrote: “You wan see Crazy abi, Mourinho way no get joy when it comes to Money matter.”

@Teri4PF wrote: “You owed Rohr over 10 months salary. Na Mourinho wey don make over £130m through getting sacked una wan go collect? I laugh in football heritage.”

@Ruinin_football: “You sack Rorh for playing boring pragmatic football, and now you want to appoint another defensive manager.”

@Amaju18: “What are u meeting him for. Why do we reduce the crises of our football to coaches alone?”

@irigo_m wrote: “The way I burst into laughter. NFF is trying to be serious or trying to accomplish an impossible task?”

AFCON 2021: Eguavoen Releases Super Eagles 28-man Provisional Squad [Full List]

The Super Eagles of Nigeria interim head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, on Saturday named a 28-man squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Naija News reports that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) disclosed the provisional list of players ahead of the tournament holding in Cameroon next month.

Among those called up are; Huesca’s Kelechi Nwakali, Union Berlin’s Taiwo Awoniyi, Almeria striker Sadiq Umar and in-form Watford forward Emmanuel Dennis all made the cut.

There is however no place for Venezia’s Tyronne Ebuehi in the Super Eagles squad.

Nigeria will tackle Egypt, Guinea-Bissau and Sudan in group D at the 2021 AFCON.

FULL SQUAD:

Goalkeepers:

Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Defenders:

Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)

Midfielders:

Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain)

Forwards:

Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England).