Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi Sacked, 11 others Sworn-in

As Obanikoro Becomes Defence Minister

Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi has been relieved of his appointment. His sack was announced Wednesday morning just before the commencement of Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

His sacked has been linked with the current face-off between his political godfather, Senator Bukola Saraki and President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Saraki was the ring leader of senators that dumped the PDP for the All Progressive Congress (APC) and he and affected senators and governors who left the party have refused to heed the President’s ultimatum to return to PDP.

The president however swore-in 11 new ministers who were recently screened by the Senate.

They include Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos), Minister of State Defence, Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Minister of State for Power; Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun), Minister of Police Affairs; Aminu Wali (Kano), Minister of Foreign Affairs; Akon Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom), Minister of Land and Housing; Lawrencia Laraba(Kaduna State), Minister of Environment; Tamuno Danagogo (Rivers), Minister of Sports; Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger), Minister of State Agriculture; Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara), Minister of Defence; Boni Haruna (Adamawa), Minister of Youth Development; Khaliru Alhassan (Sokoto State), Minister of State, Health.

By Betty Thomas, Abuja