A few hours after he was<\/span> relieved of his appoint<\/span>ment, a former Minister of Sports, Alhaji SuleimanYusuf, has denied being sacked, saying he tendered his resignation letter to President Goodluck Jonathan.<\/span><\/p>\n It was, however, learnt that Yusuf was sacked by Jonathan for allegedly obtaining a governorship nomination form for the forthcoming governorship election in Sokoto State without consulting the President.<\/span><\/p>\n According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the sack was with immediate effect.<\/span><\/p>\n The President said he was removed \u201cto afford him the opportunity to focus fully on the pursuit of his declared political ambition.\u201d<\/span> In a swift reaction, his spokesman, Mr. Adebisi Adekunle said: \u201cThere is no iota of truth in the insinuations that Alhaji Suleiman Yusuf was sacked. He voluntarily resigned from the Federal Executive Council to pursue his governorship ambition.<\/span>
It was gathered that by obtaining the form, his ambition has pitted Jonathan against Northern governors who have vowed to resist any attempt by the Presidency to deny Governor Aliyu Magartakada Wamakko a second term ticket.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cI think the ex-minister gave the President a notice to quit about two weeks ago. He remains committed to the pursuit of his governorship ambition.\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n