by ‘Jola Sotubo

In response to the many assumptions and rumours making the rounds about why he sacked the Minister of Youth Development, President Goodluck Jonathan has finally said his piece.

The president has described the insinuations in the media about why Inuwa Abdulkadir was sacked as false and baseless. President  Jonathan stated that the assumption that he sacked the minister because Abdulkadir failed to ensure that the president’s preferred candidate emerged as head of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) was untrue.

According to reports, the President also denied that he had a preferred candidate in the elections.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, President Jonathan remained sincerely and unwaveringly committed to doing all within his powers to promote the credibility and integrity of the electoral process at all levels in the country.

The Presidency stated that it was Abdulkadir’s “regrettable deviation from his presidential commitment in the management of the NYCN elections that led to the decision to relieve him of his appointment as Minister of Youth Development.”

Jonathan said he was very displeased with the mishandling of the NYCN elections in Makurdi and Minna by the Ministry of Youth Development which resulted in the unfortunate fractionalization of the youth council.