More Revelations On Why Bolaji Abdullahi Was Sacked

Facts have emerged on how President Goodluck Jonathan sacked his former sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, over a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) uniform (also called ‘aso-ebi’ in local parlance), which he did not wear when he visited Kwara State recently.
Prior to the visit, there had been speculations that the former minister would be removed.

It was reliably learnt that the last straw, which led to the ex-minister’s sack, was during the President’s visit.

The former minister, a Kwara State indigene, was billed to travel out of the country to Poland for an Eagles friendly match when he learnt that the President was visiting his state.

Feeling obliged to be part of the President’s entourage, as a member of Jonathan’s cabinet, Abdullahi was said to have shelved his trip and immediately joined the band of PDP stalwarts accompanying the President on the trip. It however turned out that he did not have the PDP uniform, which was worn by all the party members on the entourage.

It was gathered that the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, noticed the odd attire of the ex-minister and promptly called his attention. The former minister was said to have retorted that the Kwara State PDP chairman, Solomon Edoga, did not provide one for him.

The state chairman was said to have reacted that the minister was initially billed to travel out of the country, but deferred the travel because of the President’s visit.
Not satisfied with the response, the Bayelsa State governor was said to have insisted that the former minister should have ensured he wore the PDP uniform as a show of solidarity. This prompted the former minister to reply jokingly that, “After all, I am not a politician”. His statement further infuriated the Bayelsa governor, who queried why a cabinet minister would say he was not a politician.

It was further learnt that when the Jonathan entourage arrived Kwara State, people who wanted the governor removed, having previously called for his removal, treated him shabbily, chanting anti-Bolaji songs, which gave indications that the minister was not popular among his people.

After the President’s visit to Kwara, the ex-minister was said to have boarded a flight to Poland through the United Kingdom to meet up with his scheduled appointment.
He was in the United Kingdom, en-route Poland when the announcement was made for his removal.