The Minister of Sports Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi was retained because the day the cabinent reshuffle was effected was the same day Blessing Okagbare who won silver medal in 200 metres final at the 2013 World Athletics Championship in Moscow was honoured at the Presidential Villa.
Okagbare received a cash gift of N3m from President Goodluck Jonathan and the Sports Minister was generally praised on that occasion for the revolution he has brought to bear on sports.

The Sports Minister is a nominee of former Kwara State governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, who is in the splinter group New PDP and perceived to be opposed to Jonathan's 2015 ambition.

Abdullahi’s name was said to be on the list of ministers to be removed on the day Okagbare was celebrated.
But President Jonathan, it was learnt, had a change of mind because he felt it would be incongruous for the minister to be removed while being praised for good performance.