The former Minister of Interior, Alhaji Malik Yakubu has said he is ready to serve in the government in any capacity, for the development of the country.

Alhaji Yakubu resigned as the Interior Minister in the wake of the Yendi crisis last year with three other government officials when they were mentioned by spokesmen of one of the factions as likely suspects in the murder of the Ya Na.

A government White Paper based on the report of the Wuaku Commission, which investigated the incident, absolved him and the the other officials.

Speaking to ADM in an exclusive interview he said so far as his resignation was not based on any disagreement or misgivings against the government, "I am bound to serve my country in any capacity anytime I am called upon to do so".

Alhaji Yakubu who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Yendi said he resigned from the government so that it would not create the impression that as an Interior Minister he would interfere with the police investigations that had been instituted into the case.

"As the Interior Minister then, if I had remained in office, somebody could have said the police would be afraid to carry out objective investigations. It was proper for me not to be on the seat so that they (police) would be free to carry out investigations."

The former minister who was considered by many people as one of the hard working appointees, said he was not taken by surprise by the recommendations of the commission?s report and the White Paper because, "there was nothing wrong that I did".

He said, "People peddled falsehoods against me and I was anxious that the truth would come out. Truth is the truth unless somebody wants to lie". On another note he disagreed with suggestions that the Ministries of Defence and Interior should be merged because "the police and soldiers are two different entities with different characters".

In March last year, Ya Na Yakubu Andani II was killed which also saw the torching of his palace and the death of many others. The government instituted a commission of inquiry and criminal investigation into the conflict.

At the year end a government White Paper was issued on the report of the commission. A number of senior government officials including Alhaji Malik Yakubu were absolved while some suspects are to appear before the courts on charges of murder and arson.

Meanwhile the state of emergency as well as night time curfew which were instituted by government after the death of the Ya Na are still in force.