Why President Goodluck Jonathan fired Minister of Youth Development

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday relieved Inuwa Abdulkadir of his appointment as Minister of Youth Development.

According to a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, the President’s directive takes immediate effect.

The President expressed appreciation to Mr. Abdulkadir for the time he put in the service of the nation and wished him success in his future endeavours.

“Mr. President expresses appreciation to the Former Minister for the time he put in the services of the nations and wishes him success in his future endeavor,” it said.

Although, the statement was silent on the reason for Mr. AbdulKadir’s sack, presidency sources said it might not be unconnected with his closeness to the governor of his home state, Sokoto, Aliyu Wamakko.

The Sokoto state governor recommended Mr. AbdulKadir for the appointment when his (Abdul-kadir) predecessor resigned to contest the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2011. Mr. Wamakko was also an aspirant in the primaries and eventually emerged the party’s candidate before winning re-election.

Until his appointment, AbdulKadir was the state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in the Wamakko administration.

It was gathered that the minister would be replaced by another indigene of Sokoto State that could be trusted to deliver the state for Jonathan in 2015.

The minister was said to have stayed this long because of the belief that he would shift his loyalty from Wamakko to the President.

A Presidency source said, “The President cannot afford to retain any minister, who is working at cross purposes with him in any state.

“Ministers are supposed to be the eyes of the President in the states. If the President cannot guarantee a minister’s loyalty, such a minister will go. That is why he has been asked to leave.”