I was shocked Buhari didn’t reappoint me – Adebayo Shittu

Nigeria’s former minister of communication, Adebayo Shittu has expressed utmost shock that President Muhammadu Buhari did not reappoint him, and that although he did not expect it, he took it as his fate.

Majority of the 14 ministers reappointed by the president retained their portfolios.

“Of course, I expected that I will be reappointed (as a minister) but when it didn’t happen, as a Muslim, it didn’t take me five minutes before I accepted that what has come, it’s the will of God.

“And I have also found comfort in a Quranic verse when God promised that what is to come later is better than what is with you now.

“So for me, it says we must accept that there is always something better with God which he gives to his beloved.

“I see myself as a beloved of God. I have come a long way and I have served at the state and national levels and the experience that I have garnered over the last three and half years cannot be purchased from the stores or from the market.”

He said as a public officer, one must always have it in one’s mind that “whatever has a beginning will necessarily have an end.”

“And it is not how long one stays in public office but how well you are able to distinguish yourself,” he said.

The ex-minister, who is a legal practitioner, said he had decided to fall back to his profession.

“I want to thank God that I am one politician who has a second address in the sense that, if I am not a minister, I will be doing some other productive things which will also contribute to national development,” he said.

“Of course, I would have wished that I have other opportunities to serve. I believe the chapter of my public service is not closed.

“By the grace of God, I will continue to be relevant in national development. As a lawyer of about 40 years, I now have my chambers opened in Abuja. So now, I am back in practice.”

Shittu, who thanked God for the opportunity to serve as minister, appreciated the president for the appointment.

“I have been a local politicians for almost 40 years before the opportunity to serve at the national level. I really appreciate it and I want to say that I am eternally grateful to Mr President,” he said.

“So for me to have been in office for three and half years, I think it is a rare privilege for which I will continue to thank God and to continue to thank Mr President.”

The former minister, who skipped the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), had aspired for the governorship seat of Oyo state in the last election but was disqualified by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).