By Danlami Nmodu
President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked General Martin Luther Agwai as chairman of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) with immediate effect. The sack was disclosed in a statement by Presidential Spokesman ,Reuben Abati announcing Mr. Ishaya Dare Akau as the new SURE-P chairman.
The presidential spokesman said “In furtherance of his efforts to continuously re-energize and reposition agencies of the Federal Government for optimal service delivery, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has appointed Mr. Ishaya Dare Akau as the new Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).
“Mr. Akau, whose appointment takes immediate effect, replaces Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd.) who served as Chairman of the SURE-P until today.
“The new SURE-P Chairman hails from Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State and holds Bachelors’ Degrees in the Arts and Law.
Abati also disclosed that “Mr. Akau comes to the job with years of experience as a high-level administrator in the nation’s public service. His record of service includes tenures as Chairman of the Kaduna State Universal Education Board and Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission.
Also, “President Jonathan thanks the outgoing Chairman of SURE-P, Gen Agwai for his service to the nation and wishes him well in his future endeavours” according to Abati’s statement.
But observers view Agwai’s sack as a fallout of his presence at a recent birthday bash organized by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.Agwai delivered the lecture.
That incident was intriguing because Obasanjo and Jonathan have been at loggerheads .The former president has been very critical of Jonathan’s wish to recontest election this year.
Recently, the presidency accused Obasanjo of fuelling crisis in order to pave way for an interim national government which he (Obasanjo) hopes to head.
Obasanjo’s next public move was to announce his ext from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.He equally directed that his membership card be torn publicly.
Obasanjo’s birthday came days after his dramatic exit from the party.Agwai’s presence was actually viewed as equally interesting by observer.
With Agwa’s sack,Jonathan has passed his verdict on the matter.
