By Ayodele Oni
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has clarified that he specifically requested President Bola Tinubu to assign him to the Ministry, contrary to expectation of his admirers.
Alake, served as a Commissioner for Information when Tinubu was Governor of Lagos State.
He had a brief stint as Special adviser to the President on Communication, Strategy and Special Duties before he was nominated as a Minister.
Alake explained that he was assigned the portfolio by President Tinubu because of the sensitive position of the sector to economic renewal.
The Minister disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen after the inauguration of 45 new Ministers at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said that he specifically asked the President to assign the Ministry to him contrary to the general perception that he would be given a particular portfolio, which is Information.
Alake said the much talked about portfolio speculated for him was not necessarily tailored for only him.
‘’I heard about that matter since the beginning of this administration when I was given the position of Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy.
“The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, as you know, is a sensitive position in this period of economic renewal.
“The administration is ready to give a new lease of life to the sector.
So, that position was one that I specifically asked Mr. President to give me and he obliged.
“The Ministry is key to the administration and the President wanted someone that he trusted and believed would deliver effectively.”
