President Goodluck Jonathan, Wednesday denied media reports that he sacked Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir as Minister of youth development because he failed to influence the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, in his favour. The president denied that he has a favourite candidate for the position as widely reported in the media.
A statement by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, disclosed that, “In point of fact, it was Alhaji Abdulkadir’s regrettable deviation from this 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.”
The presidency, however, dismissed the ongoing media report on the reason behind the termination of the appointment of the former Minister.
According to the statement, the media “erroneously attributed the former Minister’s sack to his disloyalty or closeness to a particular governor or governors said to be opposed to the president.
“The most disingenuous and malicious speculation was that which claimed that Alhaji Abdulkadir was fired for failing to ensure that a pro-Jonathan candidate emerged as president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).
“We wish to assure the general public that nothing could be further from the truth. President Jonathan regards all Nigerian youth as his wards and constituents. Claims that he had a preferred candidate in the NYCN elections are completely baseless and without justification as there was absolutely no reason for him to prefer one candidate over others.”
Explaining further why the former Minister was fired, Abati said, “President Jonathan 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.
“The President found the Ministry’s failure to provide appropriate leadership towards open and transparent youth council elections unacceptable,” adding that President Jonathan was sincerely committed to doing everything possible to ensure that the Nigerian youth, on whom the country’s aspirations for a bright and prosperous future depend, are given the best possible upbringing and orientation.
“The President therefore expects all officials of his administration to exhibit greater rectitude and sensitivity on issues relating to youth development, and comport themselves at all times in a manner worthy of emulation by Nigerian youth. President Jonathan remains 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.
“He firmly believes that a culture of free, fair and credible election must be constantly nurtured and encouraged amongst Nigerian youth and all other sections of the country,” it added.
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