The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake, has declared that he does not have the intention of running for the governorship seat of Ekiti State.
The minister made the declaration against the backdrop of a poster circulating on social media and across WhatsApp groups where he is said to have been positioned to contest for the position of the governorship position of the state.
Alake dissociated himself from the poster saying he had no hand in it.
The minister who made the declaration in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Segun Tomori, on Monday said he was too busy with the national assignment of transforming the solid minerals sector as assigned to him by President Bola Tinubu, than to think of contesting for the governorship post of his state.
He said he was in support of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State and would contribute to the growth of the state.
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The statement reads in full:
“The attention of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Oladele Alake has been drawn to a poster that is circulating on social media and across WhatsApp groups where he is positioned as a gubernatorial aspirant in Ekiti State with the inscription ‘Take it Back’.
“The general public is hereby informed that Dr. Alake has no interest to run for governorship election in Ekiti State, either now or in the future.
“The poster in circulation does not have his approval as he does not know the people behind it. It is fake and should be discarded.
“It is unconscionable that the Honourable Minister who is busy with the onerous task of reforming and revamping the Solid Minerals sector in Nigeria, a responsibility committed to him by President Bola Tinubu will leave that to be plotting for an election in Ekiti State.
“The Honourable Minister is a busy man, working tirelessly on how to make the solid minerals sector a major revenue earner for the country and for the sector to create thousands of high paying jobs for Nigerians.
“Dr. Dele Alake is committed to his current national assignment. He is working to transform the solid minerals sector to justify the absolute confidence reposed in him by President Bola Tinubu.
“We want to state clearly that the Honourable Minister will not be distracted by the antics of disgruntled elements.
“He supports the current administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in Ekiti and as a proud son of the soil, Dr. Alake will continue to contribute to the growth and progress of Ekiti State.”
