Gen. Martin-Luther Agwai (rtd)

Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday sacked Martin Luther Agwai, a retired general and former chief of army staff, as chairman of the Federal Government’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P.

Reuben Abati, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, who made the announcement in a statement did not give reasons for the removal of Agwai from office.

He however said the President has approved the appointment of Ishaya Dare Akau, a former Chairman of Kaduna State Universal Education Board and National Assembly Commission as the new Chairman of SURE-P.

Analysts however believe that the removal of Agwai may not be unconnected with his outing at the 78th birthday of former President Olusegun Obasanjo last Thursday.

Agwai had delivered a lecture titled ‘Imperatives of National Security: Framework for Development and Progress of Nigeria’ during the birthday ceremony of the former President who is not only estranged with President Jonathan but has also bluntly and openly opposed his second term ambition.

Agwai who rained encomiums on the former President at the occasioñ had also declared that change in leadership of Nigeria is inevitable if that is what the people want.

Sources said Agwai’s outing at the birthday of the former President who he served as the Chief of Army Staff may have led to his unceremonious exit from office as the Presidency deemed him as fraternising with an enemy.

The full statement announcing the sack of Agwai reads: “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.

“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.

“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.”