For Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Christopher Kolade, the belief that he would be given maximum freedom to run the affairs of the organisation has become a mirage. He almost resigned recently out of frustration, Huhuonline.com can reveal.
Dr. Kolade, renowned for his integrity, had taken up the appointment when SURE-P was inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan after the protests that followed the removal of fuel subsidy in January 2012. Many Nigerians had opposed his decision to accept the position to oversee the running of the programme, arguing that he would end up splotching his hard-earned image.
A close friend to the SURE-P boss confirmed to Huhuonline.com that, indeed, Dr. Kolade contemplated bowing out due to unnecessary government interference with his job.
Though the organisation denied his resignation, the source said he was actually forced by top officials in government to rescind his decision as the action would not only embarrass the government of President Goodluck Jonathan but it could also turn the country against the president, thereby injuring his 2015 presidential ambition.
According to the friend, the well-respected diplomat assumed he would be free to determine the success of the programme with minimal government interference but this has not been the case.
According to the Huhuonline.com findings, the disbursement of the funds has been a major point of frustration for the SURE-P boss. It was learnt that most of his subordinates to whom funds were allocated were actually hand-picked from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a position the SURE-P boss, a businessman, had argued against.
“The recent embarrassing disgrace put up by the PDP in Lagos State concerning the allegations levelled against a faction of the party that it has taken over the share that got to the party at the state was another issue that got Dr. Kolade disturbed. How could money meant for development suddenly find its way into the pockets of those to whom it wasn’t meant?
“You also remember there was heavy criticism during this period by the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, which is always waiting for every opportunity. Kolade is more disturbed now about the direction of the programme, knowing full well that it has not achieved its goal. Any failure would be linked to him and not the president.
“He was prevailed upon to rescind his resignation. This does not mean he can’t throw in the towel anytime. My friend is not poor and would never allow his name to be soiled.”
On Tuesday, spokesman of the programme, Olisa Egbunike denied that his boss had resigned the headship of SURE-P, a programme established to make judicious use of the money accruing from the increase in the pump price of petrol from N65 to N97 per litre.
His denial followed a report that Kolade had resigned out of protest against government’s undue interference in the running of the programme.
“It is not true that Dr. Kolade resigned,” Egbunike said. “I was with him till the close of work on Monday, and there was nothing to suggest he wanted to resign his appointment. However, that he had received several calls from people seeking to confirm the report.”
It would be recalled that ACN raised alarm on the mismanagement of the subsidy funds, saying it was being diverted to wet the ground for the forthcoming presidential election. This was revealed by the in-fighting of the PDP in Lagos State over the fund.
Also, Convener of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) and General Overseer of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare recently urged Kolade to resign to preserve his hard-earned reputation by the allegation of non-performance by the board.
“If people are saying that the PDP is sharing the subsidy reinvestment fund, I would not be surprised. If PDP does not share the money, who will? Do you think the PDP has good intentions? I felt pity for Dr. Christopher Kolade when he was appointed to head that committee,” he said.
“He is a man with good reputation but appointing him at 80 to head that committee was a way of soiling his good reputation. With the kind of allegations coming up on how the funds are being managed, the best thing for him to do is to resign. I hope he withdraws or resigns before he is messed up, because you cannot expect anything good from the PDP.”
