Former Minister of Power,Engr.Mamman Saleh was aware of his imminent sack his his employer, his Special Adviser on Media, Mr.Aaron Artimas,said.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari personally informed Mamman of his impending removal on Tuesday after inviting him to the Presidential Villa.
The ex-minister got the choice of attending the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday,but chose to be absent at the meeting,he said .
The mutual relationship between the President and the ex-minister ,he said,made President Buhari to explain he had to be dropped.
His former boss,he said,was dropped to pave the way for the strengthening of the cabinet and alleged tension in the ministry.
He faulted reports that Mamman collapsed after his sack.
He said: “It is the wicked fake news as usual because Nigerians are becoming vindictive and making conditions extreme for people we don’t like having issues with.The true story is that on Tuesday evening, the President himself called the minister to the Villa and informed him personally of his intention to make changes and that he (Mamman) would be affected by the changes for the reasons they discussed between them.
“And the minister accepted in good faith and thanked the President for giving him the opportunity.And the President told him that he was doing it because he wanted to strengthen the government and reduce some tension within the ministry.The President had singlehandedly appointed him because nobody lobbied for Sale to become minister.So, he felt that as his own son, if there is anything, he can have a mutual discussion.
“When he got home, he was tensed because when he went to Chad and he came back, he had been ailing a little bit, he had not rested.So, he took drugs and went to bed.When he woke up, his body was ailing. His sugar level had gone up. Maybe it had been long he had eight hours sleep.And the doctor yesterday had to bring down the sugar level.
“So, if you go to his house now in Maitama, you will see him there.Yesterday, I insisted he should grant interview, he granted Hausa service interview.So there was nothing like collapse. He heard about his removal before everyone else. At least, the President honoured him with that prior information”
