President Goodluck Jonathan's spokesman, Reuben Abati, said the president did not fire the minister for failing to favour a pro-Jonathan candidate during the NYCN election as stated by some reports.
Mr. Abdulkadir was sacked on Monday with the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, appointed to supervise the Youth Development Ministry.
Mr. Abati said the President "remains sincerely and unwaveringly committed to doing all within his powers to promote the credibility and integrity of the electoral process at all levels in the country".
According to him, the president was very displeased with the mishandling of the NYCN elections in Makurdi and Minna by the Ministry of Youth Development which resulted in the unfortunate fractionalization of the youth council.
"The President found the Ministry's failure to provide appropriate leadership towards open and transparent youth council elections unacceptable.
However, presidency sources said that although the Youth Council elections had caused some controversy around the minister, it was his relationship with the Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko, and other PDP governors believed to be opposed to Mr. Jonathan's planned re-election bid that led to his eventual sack.
"President Jonathan is sincerely committed to doing everything possible to ensure that the Nigerian youth, on whom the country's aspirations for a bright and prosperous future depend, are given the best possible upbringing and orientation," he said.
He added that the President "therefore expects all officials of his administration to exhibit greater rectitude and sensitivity on issues related to youth development, and comport themselves at all times in a manner worthy of emulation by Nigerian youth".
"We wish to assure the general public that nothing could be further from the truth. President Jonathan regards all Nigerian youth as his wards and constituents. Claims that he had a preferred candidate in the NYCN elections are completely baseless and without justification as there was absolutely no reason for him to prefer one candidate over others".
He added that Mr. Jonathan believes that a culture of free, fair, and credible elections must be constantly nurtured and encouraged amongst Nigerian youth and all other sections of the country.
"In point of fact, it was Alhaji Abdulkadir's regrettable deviation from this presidential commitment in the management of the NYCN elections that led to the decision to relieve him of his appointment as Minister of Youth Development," Mr. Abati said.
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