Bolaji Abdullahi Breaks Silence: Why Saraki’s Defection Doomed My Ministerial Job

Bolaji Abdullahi, national publicity secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has revealed that he was removed from his ministerial post by former President Goodluck Jonathan because he refused to attack former Senate President Bukola Saraki during a campaign rally in Kwara State.

Abdullahi disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the public presentation of his memoir, The Loyalist: A Memoir of Service and Sacrifice.

Having served as Minister of Youth Development and later as Minister of Sports under Jonathan, Abdullahi was relieved of his duties in March 2014. He explained that his dismissal stemmed from his refusal to participate in personal attacks against Saraki, despite intense pressure at the campaign event. At the time, Saraki was governor of Kwara State, and Abdullahi had previously worked closely with him—as special assistant on communication, special adviser on policy, and commissioner for education.

Speaking at the event, Abdullahi said he began writing the book in 2019 to chronicle the evolution of his relationship with Saraki. The memoir was initially titled In the Shadow of the Godfather. He spoke candidly about his loyalty to Saraki, particularly during the period when Saraki defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abdullahi recounted the events of March 2014, when former President Jonathan visited Kwara for a campaign rally. As the highest-ranking PDP official in the state and a serving minister, Abdullahi was expected to coordinate the president’s campaign locally. However, during the rally, several speakers—including governors—attacked Saraki. Abdullahi refused to join in the personal attacks, putting him at odds with powerful party figures, which he believes led to his dismissal.

He said, “Dr. Saraki had just left PDP for APC, and I was still serving in President Jonathan’s cabinet. That made me the highest-ranking official in the state. But as far as I was concerned, I was the Minister of Sports—I had no business attacking anyone. I was naive.

“So, I went to Kwara, and every speaker on stage attacked Dr. Saraki. As the minister from Kwara, I was expected to lead the campaign and join the attacks—but I didn’t. Governor Liyel tried to protect me that day because Governor Seriake Dickson wanted me fired. They said, ‘How could a minister not lead his boss’s campaign? He must be an APC mole.’

“Governor Liyel even told President Jonathan, ‘The World Cup is coming; if you fire Bolaji now, the national team will suffer.’ But I stood my ground. If Saraki had asked me to attack Jonathan, I would have refused just as I refused to attack Saraki. He has been my benefactor and never wronged me. I knew I was going to lose my job, and I told my wife and aides to prepare. Later, while in London on official duty, I began receiving messages confirming my dismissal.”