Martin-Luther Agwai is no longer the head of the Subsidy reinvestment and empowerment program, SURE-P. And his exit, several reports have detailed, goes beyond the surface.
A former Defence Chief, Agwai led the United Nations missions in Sudan and a slew of Nigerian peace-keeping missions in the sub region.
In a statement Tuesday, presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, announced Ishaya Dare Akau as the new head of SURE-P. Abati’s statement had read that Agwai’s departure was “in furtherance of President Jonathan’s efforts to continuously re-energize and reposition agencies of the Federal Government for optimal service delivery”.
But few are believing the official line.
Premium Times is reporting that Agwai was fired for flouting a federal government directive which stated that no government official or member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, should attend the birthday event of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which held last week.
Agwai was at Obasanjo’s birthday gig last week and even addressed the guests for effect. Obasanjo and Jonathan aren’t exactly the best of buddies at the moment if the verbal darts flung each other’s way from Abuja to Abeokuta are anything to go by.
According to the Premium Times report: Sources within the presidency have squealed that all government functionaries were instructed by President Jonathan to boycott Mr. Obasanjo’s birthday event.
Our sources said when informed of the president’s warning, Mr. Agwai, who climbed to the pinnacle of his career under the Obasanjo administration, said he will go ahead and attend the function, more so, in view of the president’s directive.
Our sources said for daring the president, it was clear Mr. Agwai would be fired.
One source said it appears Mr. Agwai was informed ahead of the announcement of his removal Tuesday, as the former defence chief arrived early at the SURE-P office to pack his belongings.
Mr. Agwai succeeded octogenarian and elder statesman Christopher Kolade who left SURE-P under a cloud; with some reports suggesting he was fired as well after publicly criticizing the President.
