Orubebe explains He was Not Sacked , Says he quit President Jonathan’s cabinet

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Elder Godsday Orubebe is not prepared to let the rumour mill have its way on the issue of why he is no longer a minister in the federal cabinet. Orubebe was one of four ministers recently dropped from the federal cabinet. A lot of stories reported that the ministers were sacked by the president.  Orubebe however flatly denies that.

Speaking during the handover to the Minister of State, Darius Ishiaku, who is now presiding as the acting Minister, Orubebe said that he voluntarily resigned in order to further his political career. Orubebe has long declared his interest to be the next Delta governor.

Orubebe said: “For the avoidance of doubt, I was not dropped; I was not sacked. I put in my resignation letter because I am venturing into politics in another dimension at the Federal and state levels.”

The former minister said he could talk boldly now about the President since he is no longer in government.

He said: “He (Jonathan) means well for this country. His dream is to see that Nigeria is placed in the right place.”

Orubebe’s departure from the federal cabinet now makes Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke, the undisputed longest serving minister in the Jonathan cabinet. He was first appointed minister in 2007 as Minister of Special Duties and later Minister of State, Niger Delta. He was later made the substantive minister for Niger Delta Affairs in 2010.