The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has declared that his withdrawal from the Kebbi State gubernatorial race did not violate any extant law in Nigeria.

Malami also stated that at no time did he resign as minister.

Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Gwandu, in a statement obtained by The Star, averred that Malami has not abdicated his position for the governorship ambition.

“Malami has the right to choose to voluntarily shelve his gubernatorial ambition. It is a matter of personal conviction and individual right which didn’t violate any law.

“The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has not resigned. He withdrew his ambition to contest for the 2023 Kebbi State gubernatorial election,” Gwandu said.

According to him, the decision by the minister to jettison his gubernatorial aspiration is a demonstration of patriotism and self-control that is worthy of admiration.

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He said: “The decision is not only a demonstration of altruism and patriotism, but of contentment, self-control, placidity and decisiveness in problem-solving at a time shrouded with confusing and competing stimulus. It is a commendable posture worthy admiration coming from a paragon of virtue.

“As individual Nigerian citizens with inalienable fundamental rights, we are not aware of any legally justifiable and reasonable tenable obligations compelling the person of Abubakar Malami or as an Attorney General of the Federation to do otherwise.”

He said right thinking members of the society should respect the right of the minister to “individual’s right to freedom of choice in matters relating to this.”

The Star