I’m not infected with COVID-19 — Lai Mohammed clarifies

December 27, 2021 | anaben

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has denied speculations that he had tested positive to COVID-19 and was being treated of the virus.

He observed the online publication, which had been “latched on to by some mainstream media, once again highlights the uphill task the government faces in our campaign to stamp out fake news and misinformation.”

A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Adeyemi, stated: “The attention of the office of the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has been drawn to a report making the rounds that he has contracted the COVID-19 virus and that he is now in isolation, where he is receiving treatment. For the record, the minister does not have COVID-19, hence he is neither in isolation nor receiving treatment anywhere. A journalism mantra says ‘when in doubt, leave it out.’ Also embedded in the code of ethics for journalists are the basic principles of truthfulness and accuracy, among others. The report in question did not meet those standards.”

He noted that his principal was at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday and the extraordinary version the day, and also witnessed the swearing-in of the Minister of State for Works and Housing on Friday.

“All these events took place at the Villa, where the correspondents of many media organisations are deployed. In fact, the minister coordinated the post-FEC press briefing on Wednesday and Thursday. Could he have done this from the imaginary isolation centre where he was consigned by a mischievous reporter”?

The media aide continued: “As a member of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, the minister has the added responsibility of leading by example, hence would not have hesitated to publicly announce his COVID-19 status if indeed he has contracted the virus.

After all, he is not only fully vaccinated, he has also taken the booster shot, a situation that offers him different layers of protection even if he contracts the virus. For those who contract the virus, they deserve our empathy and prayers, not stigmatisation.

“In the best tradition of journalism, we expect the online newspaper behind this fake news not only to retract the publication but also to apologise to the minister for causing him such embarrassment, especially in a season of joy.”

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Presidential aides testing positive to COVID-19 shows they’re human – Adesina

December 27, 2021 | anaben

SPECIAL Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, Sunday said that the fact that presidential aides were testing positive to COVID-19 and are currently on self-isolation, proved that they are humans and not immune to happenings around them.

Chief Adesina stated this when he made an appearance on Sunday Politics on Channels Television.

The names of those affected are 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 media and publicity, Garba Shehu. They were confirmed positive during the week.

The report quoted Shehu as saying: “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.”

Asked to comment on the development Adesina 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 Mallam 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 beaten it already. There is no cause for alarm.”

When asked how he was holding up since he had contact with Shehu, the Presidential Spokesman said: “Well, I also believe God for the best. If it happens, I’ll recover. So that’s it.”

Asked how many Of the President’s aides in the State House have been infected, 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.”

Asked if the President was isolating seeing that, he had been exposed to those infected, Adesina 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 test negative. So, Mr. President, is following his normal schedule and routine.”

Top presidential aides test positive to COVID-19

COVID-19: Clubs banned, indoor events restricted to 50 in FCT

December 25, 2021 | anaben

There’s panic in Aso rock as some presidential aides have reportedly tested positive to coronavirus and are currently being self-isolated.

Reports have it that those affected 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 (media and publicity), Garba Shehu.

They were confirmed positive during the week.
Also, Minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, is reportedly also down with the virus.

However, they’re not seriously affected by the virus as they are fully vaccinated.
.

The report quoted the presidential spokesman, Shehu as saying: “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.”

Testing had recently been ramped up in the presidential villa in the emergence of the Omicron variant to ensure that the virus is contained.

Few days ago, the First Lady, Dr Aisha Muhammadu Buhari had a few days ago after returning from Istanbul, Turkey, ordered that her office be closed of and her staff proceed on indefinite leave.

It is believed that the order is meant to check the possible spread of coronavirus around the first family.

She had given a similar directive in the past when Covid-19 started to gain ground in the country.

When Shehu was reached over the report Saturday, he said: “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.”

Only those vaccinated against COVID-19 will serve from next year – NYSC