"I was sacked as minister under Jonathan because I refused to attack Saraki"

Bolaji Abdullahi, national publicity secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has revealed that former President Goodluck Jonathan removed him as a minister for refusing to publicly attack ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki during a 2014 campaign in Kwara State.

Abdullahi made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja at the public presentation of his memoir, The Loyalist: A Memoir of Service and Sacrifice.

A former minister of youth development and later sports under Jonathan’s administration, Abdullahi was relieved of his appointment in March 2014, shortly after Saraki defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Recounting events that led to his exit, Abdullahi said he was expected to spearhead President Jonathan’s campaign in Kwara as the most senior PDP official from the state at the time. However, he declined to join other speakers who mounted the stage to attack Saraki.

“Every single person that climbed the stage made it their duty to abuse Dr Saraki,” he said. “As the minister from Kwara, I was expected to lead the attack. I didn’t.”

Abdullahi, who previously served Saraki as special assistant on communication, special adviser on policy, and commissioner for education when Saraki was governor of Kwara, said he refused to be drawn into a political fight that was not his.

“Dr Saraki has been my benefactor. He has not offended me,” he said. “I will not be enrolled in a fight that is not mine.”

He recalled internal pressure within the Jonathan administration, alleging that some governors accused him of being an APC mole and pushed for his dismissal.

Although concerns about the upcoming World Cup briefly delayed the decision, Abdullahi said he knew his days in office were numbered.

“I told my wife and my aides that I was going to be sacked,” he said. “And I was.”

According to him, he was on official duty in London when messages began to pour in confirming his removal from office.

Abdullahi also revealed that he began writing his memoir in 2019, initially titled In the Shadow of the Godfather, to chronicle how loyalty and political relationships shaped his career, particularly his ties with Saraki.

The book launch attracted several prominent political figures, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, ADC national chairman David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Kayode Fayemi, Emeka Ihedioha, and Rotimi Amaechi.