By Emma Amaize
MINISTER of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, weekend, said the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan had called him on phone to refute the story that he called for his  sack from the Federal Executive Cabinet at a recent meeting of the Governors’ Forum.

Gbagi who spoke to newsmen, weekend, in Warri, said he has nothing against the governor on the matter because his explanation sounded cogent. Some national newspapers reported that Governor Uduaghan at the last meeting of the Governor’s Forum called for the removal of the Minister of Niger-Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe and Olorogun Gbagi. Both of them hail from the state.

“He told me that actually, there was nothing like that and that such a thing could not have come from him”, the minister asserted.

On the controversy generated by the closure of primary and secondary schools for the voter registration exercise, he said that government’s decision was in the best interest of Nigerians.

He said, “Let me first and foremost thank parents across the country for the extra-burden, having made preparation for their children to go back to school, that as a result of the exigency of our political landscape, I was compelled as Minister of State for Education to close down schools.  I did close down the schools because there was a request, first and foremost from INEC chairman, asking us to do so.

“When the request, which bothered mainly on the security of our children, was considered, we found out that we owe the country and responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and are safe from any form or danger”.

On the report that President Jonathan’s children flouted the order, he said:  “The report that the children of the President were going to school was not correct.

“I was shocked because there were rather rumors to the effect that I have called off the closure of schools, which was not true, so the President’s children never went to school. Don’t forget that he is a very law-abiding citizen. He is somebody who is honestly afraid to violate rules of this country”, he stated.