Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe has insisted that despite widespread reports of his sack by President Goodluck Jonathan, he voluntarily resigned to pursue other political interests.
Until he left office on Wednesday afternoon, Orubebe — alongside Minister of Petroleum resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke — was the longest-serving minister in Jonathan’s cabinet.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I was not dropped. I was not sacked”, Orubebe said today at an emotional farewell ceremony in Abuja.
“It is wrong to have believed that no minister can resign except he was sacked. I put in my resignation letter because I am venturing into politics in another dimension at the federal and state levels”.
Orubebe, who has since handed over to Minister of State, Darius Ishiaku as Acting Minister, also said that having now left the federal cabinet, he is in a position to sincerely appraise Jonathan.
“President Jonathan means well for this country. His dream is to see that Nigeria is placed in the right place”, he said.
Appointed minister in 2007 first to as Minister of Special Duties, then as Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, and subsequently in 2010 substantive Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in 2010, Orubebe is believed to be interested in contesting the Delta State governorship election in 2015.
