Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige has said he will not work for any of the presidential candidates ahead of the February 25 election.
Ngige, who is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said the four frontline presidential candidates are his friends and that he would not campaign for or against any of them.
The minister said this while addressing reporters at his country home at Alor yesterday.
He said Nigerians should be free to choose their laders.
Giving an account of his personal relationship with each of the frontline presidential candidates, he said: “Malam Kwankwaso is my friend. I know him too as Deputy Speaker when he was deputising Agunwa Anekwe, one of our party’s strong men.
“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, (former) Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was the man who was at the helm of affairs when I was ‘kidnapped’ – when I was shoved out of office.
“He was standing in for Mr. President (Olusegun Obasanjo), who was in Maputo (capital of Mozambique), and he ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) then to reinstate me to office.
“I also worked with him in the National Economic Council as the Vice President. So, I know him, and he is a friend of mine. We also formed the defunct Action Congress (AC) together.
“Peter Obi is my brother, my successor and my everything. I know him too and he is a friend. So, how do I campaign against any of them?
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, my friend again, is supportive. During trying times, we formed (defunct) AC together. I became the known opposition senator in the Southeast under the auspices and platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). So, he is not somebody I don’t know.”
