Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, last Wednesday let loose a torrent of shocking statements that both Taraba State, where she hails from, and the presidency, by whose grace she is a minister of the federal republic, are stupefied. She had led a delegation of Tarabans to pay former vice president Atiku Abubakar a Sallah visit.
Addressing the former vice president, she had gushed:
“Your Excellency, our father and our president by the grace of God come 2019, before you are your people, your supporters for life, the people of Taraba State. They are here to pay our homage and to greet you on the occasion of Sallah and for all that Allah has done to you because Allah has raised your status.”
A video recording of that visit, however, leaked, with all the portentous implications of her statements.
Probably shocked by the leakage but still keeping her wits about her, she reiterated her views on a BBC Hausa Service interview indicating that her support for the former vice president was not a fluke but a conscious, deliberate and determined action. In the interview, she alluded to a statement President Muhammadu Buhari allegedly made indicating that he would only run for one term, and suggested that the statement justified her support for the ex-vice president. She offered no substantiation for President Buhari’s so-called announcement to serve for only one term, nor has anyone from the presidency corroborated her allusions.
Everyone expects her to be sacked from the Buhari cabinet, for her loyalty, as some argue, has become doubtful. She herself half expects the sack, but takes dubious consolation in her supposition that the president is naturally disinclined to enter hasty judgement on anyone, especially a minister.
It is not clear whether in coming to her soothing conclusions she took cognisance of the president’s grovelling aides, some of whom revel in conspiracy theories and love to instigate far-reaching but sometimes damaging decisions. But soon, it seems, she will discover that she has become a pariah in the corridors of power, given the cold shoulder and palpable signals that will leave her with little choice but to fall on her sword. Or perhaps, she has set herself up to be the perfect trigger for a general cabinet reshuffle.
Whatever the political consequences of Senator Alhassan’s incautious statement on 2019, she has at least shown she has conviction, and is willing to call her soul her own. The former vice president will doubtless stand by her, and given his own not-so-gentle rebuke of the president’s style on the same day the senator’s incendiary statement became public, both of them might have unwittingly signalled the commencement of Politics 2019.
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, last Wednesday let loose a torrent of shocking statements that bo...
There are certain things we do every day that actually pose a threat to our health. Some of these habits are common and ordinary, embedded in our day to day activities.
Who would think that even the ordinary activities you engage in could damage your health?
Below are 10 everyday habits that may damage your health. Check them out and see if they are damaging yours.
1. Sitting: Countless studies show time and time again that being physically inactive leads to a whole list of health problems.
The World Health Organization reports that being physically inactive comes in fourth as a leading risk factor for death.
Many people have jobs that require they sit, but do you sit even more when you get home? If you have to sit for work, try standing at every opportunity you get or try taking a walk instead of using the intercom.
2. Snacking: Eating when you’re not hungry can create all kinds of problems.
Most times, when people snack so, unhealthy food is being consumed, causing weight to be gained, sodium to rise and cholesterol levels to go up.
3. Cell phones: Experts revealed that when cellphones are used before bed, the light from the cell phones or tablets triggers our brains to stay awake thereby causing insomnia. There’s also a report that the rays from our mobile device can cause cancer.
4. TV: Everyone likes to sit and watch a good movie, but RD points out that too much of a good thing can become bad.
Sitting at the TV means you’re more prone to snack and less active. Use it wisely.
5. Skipping breakfast: Often people who are trying to control what they eat skip breakfast because they aren’t hungry or just don’t have time. Having your breakfast kick starts your body and triggers your metabolism. Without that trigger, you may end up eating much in the afternoon, thereby gaining more than you lose.
6. Oversleeping: Over-sleeping is actually a medical disorder. The condition causes people to suffer from extreme sleepiness throughout the day. It also causes them to sleep for unusually long periods of time at night. This can trigger headaches. The required sleep duration for an adult is 7-8 hours daily.
There are certain things we do every day that actually pose a threat to our health. Some of these habits are common and ordinary, embedded...
In a recent interview, Ghanaian actor, Chris Attoh has revealed how much he enjoys his kissing scenes with actress, Yvonne Nelson.
Actor Chris Attoh has disclosed that he enjoyed his kissing scenes with actress, Yvonne Nelson in a couple of movies they starred in together.
The two are known to have starred in a number of productions together including ‘Single and Married’.
In some scenes, Chris, who played the role of Yvonne’s cheating husband, happened to kiss the actress a number of times; acts he admits to having enjoyed it a lot.
He told Doreen Andoh on Joy FM’s Cosmopolitan Mix on Friday that “it was very enjoyable kissing Yvonne Nelson in the film ‘Single and Married’, every time I would run for it.”
The actor, who admits that he immerses himself totally in the roles he plays; also expressed admiration for the lips of some ladies he happened to work with in his latest work which is yet to be released. He describes them as ‘amazing’.
Chris Attoh whose marriage to Nigerian actress Damilola Adegbite was rumoured to have hit the rocks sometime last year, on the show, offered some advice on the best ways celebrity marriages can stand the test of time.
According to him, “Marriage is serious business, marriage is a partnership. We’re living with a generation that wants everything now, and it’s not built like that.”
He believes that men should “look for true values, what you want in a woman. Look for someone you can converse with also as you grow old.”
Above all, the actor believes one must choose a friend for life when considering a marriage partner.
In a recent interview, Ghanaian actor, Chris Attoh has revealed how much he enjoys his kissing scenes with actress, Yvonne Nelson. Actor...
Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, says supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari were not in support of his choice of Aisha Alhassan as a minister.
Speaking with state house correspondents after meeting with the president on Friday, the governor said Alhassan has never been a supporter of Buhari.
He said he was not surprised that the minister openly endorsed former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
“I just came to see the President and wish him very happy Sallah arrears, I wasn’t able to go to Daura. Hours of works and interactions, today being Friday I happen to be in town and thought I should come see him, pray with him and wish him well.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Jummai Alhassan, has been in the Students Union. In the APC she was never in the Buhari camp, she did not support our candidates during the National Convention, she didn’t vote for Buhari during the Primaries. But out of largeness of the President’s heart and to encourage women……Even though she was never a supporter of his politics or what he believes in, his ideology.
He still believed that to encourage women in politics , what she has tried to do in Taraba earned her being nominated as a Minister. Many in Buhari camp did not support it but he overode everybody. He tries to consider every Nigerian his own son or daughter and he nominated here.
Her comments are not surprising. She has never been a supporter, she has never believed in Buhari ideology. So, I am not surprised. As a Nigerian, as an individual she has every right to express her views and support whoever she wants.
What I am saying is Nigerians should not be surprised or shocked. This has always been her position because from time she has never supported Buharism or what Buhari stands for. Being part of Buhari government is a different thing because government sets policies and if you are a minister you execute the policies. You can execute those policies while pursuing a different brand of politics.
The governor maintained that she was entitled to her opinion and added that it was at the discretion of the president to either retain or replace her.
“As a Nigerian, she has every right to express her views and support whoever she wants,” he said.
“What I am saying is that Nigerians should not be surprised or shocked. This has always been her position because from time she has never supported Buharism or what Buhari stands for. Being part of Buhari government is a different thing, because government sets policies and if you are a minister you execute the policies. You can execute those policies while pursuing a different brand of politics.”
The minister was at the presidential villa in Abuja on Thursday but did not meet Abba Kyari, Buhari’s chief of staff, whom she had gone to see.
Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, says supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari were not in support of his choice of Aisha Alhassan ...