NIGERIA (Abuja)-Immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe has debunked rumour tha he was sacked by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the cabinet shake-up that happened yesterday.

He said he willingly resigned his appointment so as to pursue his political ambition in 2015.

Orubebe, who was one of the longest serving minister in the current dispensation disclosed this in Abuja while handing over affairs at the Niger Delta Ministry to the Minister of State, Darius Ishiaku.

The erstwhile Minister, who was said to be eyeing the Delta State Government House in the next general election, was appointed minister in 2007, first in the Special Duties Ministry and later, Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs, before he was made the substantive minister in 2010.

 “For the avoidance of doubt, I was not dropped. I was not sacked. I put in my resignation letter because I am venturing into politics in another dimension at the Federal and state levels,” he stated.

The former minister said he can talk boldly now about the President since he is no longer in government.

“President Jonathan means well for this country. His dream is to see that Nigeria is placed in the right place.”