LAGOS MARCH 5TH (URHOBOTODAY)-President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday caused another surprise in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) when he announced Dr Tamuno Danagogo (Rivers) as the new Minister of Sports.
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi was absent at the Federal Executive Council meeting when his replacement was named.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati confirmed his sack to State House correspondents.
Inside sources said Abdullahi lost his job as a result of “betrayal of trust”.
He was said to remarked in a bus conveying dignitaries to the venue of the rally in Kwara State on Monday to receive defectors from opposition party to the PDP saying, “I don’t have any business to be here if not because I am from this state and by reason of my position”.
His statement was said to have angered many others in the bus who told him point blank that he will cease to be a minister.
The former Minister who first served as Minister of Youth and Development in 2011 before being named as substantive Minister of Sports in may 2012.
Meanwhile, the other newly confirmed ministers have been allocated portfolios. Former Governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna was named Minister of Youth Development, Gen. Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara), was named Minister of Defence, while former High Commissioner to Ghana, Musiliu Obanikoro was named Minister of State Defence.
Others are Mohammed Wakil was named Minister of State Power, Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun) was named Minister of Police Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali (Kano) is now Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom) is now Minister of Land and Housing and Lawrencia Laraba Mallam (Kaduna State) was named Minister of Environment.
Others are Hajia Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger) as Minister of State Agriculture, and Dr. Khaliru Alhassan (Sokoto State) is now Minister of State Health.