I’m still campaigner for Buhari’s re-election, member of APC – Shittu

*Says Mischief makers misrepresenting him in public

*We didn’t close down Buhari Campaign office – Minister

The Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, has dispelled the rumour making the round that the closure of his campaign office for President Buhari’sre-election was connected with the alleged injustice done to him by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Minister reportedly stated this in a recent media interview where he explained that the development had nothing to do with his disagreement with the party.

Asked to comment on reports that he stopped campaigning for President Muhammadu Buhari in the South West when he closed the campaign office he opened in Ibadan, Shittu said it was not true that he no longer campaigned for President Buhari.

He continued: “I think that whole idea that I stopped campaigning for Buhari is nonsensical. I was the first cabinet member who started campaigning for Buhari’s reelection.

“I am still part of this government and part of the APC. In fact, I am a foundation member of the APC and my interactions and relationship with Buhari is not just starting. I was his party’s governorship candidate in Oyo state in2011 and President Buhari has continued to earn my respect and adoration because he is one President who was either the first or the second to willingly reduce his salary by half.

“I think the first leader to do that was MurtalaMohammed who is late now. If he can reduce his legitimate salary so that theNigerian state can utilise that second part for the good of this country, whywould I do that?

“I think the story is mere mischief. We had a rented apartmentwhich is not my property. We rented it for N3 million per annum and we simplycould not afford to pay that and the landlord was impatient with us. He said weeither pay or get out and we simply took the most sensible option by vacatingthe place.

“We are in the process of looking for another office space for thecampaign. We hope to get something cheaper. So, it is not true that forwhatever reason, I would say that I am no longer campaigning for Buhari.

“It wasthe handiwork of mischief makers and a section of the media cannot be exoneratedfrom that. They started carrying that report without seeking my own side of thestory. That is simply not patriotic. It is self serving and politicallymotivated.”