In what appeared a shocking decision to many, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday relieved the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, of his job.
The decision was subtly announced at the inauguration of new ministers by the President, when one of the incoming ministers, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo (Rivers), was announced as the helmsman of the sports ministry.
Reports had it that Abdullahi left on Wednesday morning for Poland to attend a world indoor meet.
Sources told The Eagle Online that one of the major grouses against Abdullahi was his refusal to honour invitation by federal lawmakers in the last three years.
For instance, he was supposed to be at the budget defence of his ministry on Tuesday but was absent.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, put up a defence for Abdullahi by lying to the Senate that he had travelled to Poland.
The Eagle Online, however, learnt Abduallhi only travelled on Wednesday morning.
It was gathered that the hierarchy of the legislature had complained to Jonathan about the attitude of Abdullahi, who was believed to be doing a good job in the sports arena, with the array of laurels the country had won in the last two years.
Also on Wednesday, President Jonathan assigned portfolios to the other new ministers, who took their oath before the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.
The new ministers and their portfolios are:
Senator Muhammadu Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos), Minister of State Defence.
Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Minister of State Power.
Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun), Minister of Police Affairs.
Ambassador Aminu Wali (Kano), Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Akon Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom), Minister of Land and Housing.
Lawrencia Laraba Mallam (Kaduna State), Minister of Environment.
Hajia Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger), Minister of State, Agriculture.
Gen. Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara), Minister of Defence.
Boni Haruna (Adamawa), Minister of Youth Development.
Dr. Khaliru Alhassan (Sokoto State), Minister of State, Health.
The President is expected to make further changes to the cabinet in the coming weeks.
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