By Emmanuel Nduka
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has fired Zainab Kazeem, the Special Assistant to the President on Domestic and Social Events, Office of the First Lady.
The sacking of Aisha Buahri’s aide was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, who said the termination of Kazeem’s appointment was with immediate effect.
The statement added that President Buhari approved the appointment of a veteran journalist and former lawmaker, Muhammad Sani Zorro, as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs and Strategy, Office of the First Lady.
“The President Muhammadu Muhammadu Buhari has approved the termination of the services of Zainab Kazeem, as the Special Assistant to the President on Domestic and Social Events, Office of the First Lady.
“In her place, the President has also approved the appointment of Mohammed Sani Zorro, as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs and Strategy, Office of the First Lady.
“Zorro a famous journalist who brings to the new job decades-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 said.
It added that Buhari equally approved the immediate redeployment of three of the political appointees in the First Lady’s office to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, pending their assignment to some other government departments or agencies at the instance of the First Lady herself.
Meanwhile, 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.
