Former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi has disclosed why he was relieved of his appointment by former President Goodluck Jonathan in March 2014.
Abdullahi, who represented Kwara State at the Federal Executive Council and served as Minister of Youth Development and later Minister of Sports, said his dismissal was due to his refusal to attack ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki during a campaign in Kwara State.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Abdullahi, now National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), explained that he chose not to be drawn into the conflict between Saraki and Jonathan after Saraki left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“There is always a price to pay because you find yourself caught in between. You are not being asked to take sides in a battle that you hardly understand most of the times,” he said.
Abdullahi added: “President Jonathan was going to Kwara to campaign and that was the time Saraki left the PDP to join the APC. I was expected as the most senior political appointee from Kwara to take over the PDP structure, fund it and lead the President’s campaign. When we got to Kwara, everybody was attacking Saraki. I was expected as the most senior political office holder to also join and attack Saraki and I said no. So it was a matter of principle.”
When asked if he regretted serving in Jonathan’s administration, Abdullahi said he did not, noting that he had anticipated being sacked for maintaining loyalty to Saraki while continuing his professional relationship with the President.
Abdullahi previously held key positions under Saraki, including Special Assistant on Communication, Special Adviser on Policy, and Commissioner for Education when Saraki was governor of Kwara State.
