The transitional president of Mali, Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane have resigned after being arrested in an apparent second military coup in nine months, a top junta aide and an international diplomat said.
Ndaw who was appointed with the responsibility of returning the country to civilian rule after a coup last August, had been held since Monday and resigned “before the mediator”, said Baba Cisse, special advisor to junta boss Assimi Goita, adding that negotiations were under way for their release and the formation of a new government.
In another development, the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday, relieved nineteen political appointees of their duties.
The El-Rufai-led government disclosed that the development is the first phase of political appointees to be sacked.
The Kaduna Government has been called out by Nigerians for sacking thousands of civil servants due to his policy.
The state government which had defended its policy noted that it would not continue to pay over 80 percent of its allocation from the federation account to civil servants and assured that the political appointees will also be affected in the exercise.
Among the political appointees affected by the disengagement are the Deputy Chief of Staff and two special advisers.
El-Rufai in a post on Twitter appreciated the officials for their support to the state and wished them well in their future endeavours.
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According to the statement, those affected also included Bala Yunusa Mohammed, Deputy Chief of Legislative Staff (DCOSL); Halima Musa Nagogo, Special Assistant to DCOSL and Umar Abubakar, another Special Assistant to DCOSL.
The statement further said that Ben Kure, Special Adviser Political; Mustapha Lynda Nyusha and Jamilu Gwarzala Dan Mutum, Special Assistants to the Special Adviser Political will also exit the service, including Umar Haruna, a Special Assistant Political.
The list of those affected also included Special Adviser Social Development Zainab Shehu; Special Assistant to the Special Adviser, Stephen Hezron and Mohammed Bello Shuaibu, Senior Special Assistant Stakeholders Relations, as well as Senior Special Assistant on Youth, Aliyu Haruna.
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Also on the list are Halima Idris, Special Assistant Creative Arts; Engr Aliyu Alhaji Salihu, Director General of Public Procurement Authority, Special Assistant Community Relations Ashiru Zuntu and Saida Sa’ad, a Senior Special Assistant.
The Special Assistant Programmes, Elias Yahaya and Special Assistant to the Secretary to Kaduna State Government, Tasiu Suleiman Yakaii are on the list.
The Special Assistant on Economic Matters, Samuel Hadwayah and Ahmed Mohammed Gero, Senior Special Assistant Environment were also sacked.
