Get Your Facts Right, I Was Never Fired, Ex-Minister Blasts Omokri

Former minister of power, Barth Nnaji has dismissed claims he was fired by ex-president Goodluck Jonathan over corruption allegations.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Thursday, Nnaji described as false, a statement credited to Reno Omokri, former media aide to Goodluck Jonathan, who claimed the ex-minister was sacked.

Omokri had earlier in the week claimed Nnaji was fired from his post as Minister of power, citing corruption.

However, Nnaji, who criticized Omokri, said he resigned from Jonathan’s administration to protect his integrity.

The former minister said he still has in possession his resignation letter.

“If you want to defend your boss, defend your boss correctly with facts. Do not go to impugn people’s character in order to defend your boss,” Nnaji said.

“I have not made any statement against anybody and I know exactly what happened in that place.

“There have been numerous reports about what transpired and I was very clear that those who were vested in the sector were out to get what they wanted. And all of you can see it today. Some of them did get what they wanted and I didn’t want to be part of any of that. That is why I resigned.

“So, anybody saying anything else is trying to find a way to deflect issues and it shouldn’t be an innocent person – somebody who came to serve his country and everybody knows what I did and the quality of work I did in the sector. There is absolutely nothing like that.

“I resigned; I have a letter of resignation, which I tendered to the president and I issued a statement, stating why I was resigning; that I didn’t want my integrity to be tampered with. It was very clear; it is public knowledge; you people reported it.

“It is actually quite funny. First, the presidential aide was not there when the president and I discussed my resignation and I have my letter of resignation and I resigned.”

Nnaji said former Jonathan when queried on his exit, admitted that he (Nnaji) “committed no offence”.