Dr. Christopher Kolade, chairman, Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), has resigned his appointment, citing advanced age as reason. He is 81 years old.
Kolade, who was also former Nigerian High Commissioner to United Kingdom, was made SURE-P chairman since the interventionist outfit came into being in February 2012, conveyed his desire to retire from public life through a letter, dated September 25, 2013 and addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan.
But sources said that too many invitations by the committees of the National Assembly in recent times had unsettled the elder statesman, who was said to have expressed sadness that some persons might be targeting his reputation.
Kolade is said to be embarrassed recently when a committee of the National Assembly announced that N500 billion SURE-P funds was missing.
He requested the president to name a replacement, so that he can effectively disengage by the end of November this week, ahead of his 81st birthday in December.
His desire to stay on till a replacement was made was apparently to ensure that there was no vacuum at the leadership level, as Major-General Mamman Kontangora, his deputy, who would have stepped into his shoes, died in May this year.
Kolade’s resignation letter, titled: ‘Withdrawal from Chairmanship of the SURE-P Committee’ reads: “I wish to inform you, respectfully, of my decision to resign from the position of Chairman of the SURE-P Committee.
“My desire is that the resignation should take effect as soon as Mr. President names a new chairman, but not later than the end of November, 2013.
“Mr. President, it has been a worthwhile experience for me to serve as chairman since the inauguration of the committee in February 2012. However, as I approach my 81st birthday, I wish to retire from the more time and energy consuming parts of my responsibilities and activities, one of which is the SURE-P Committee chairmanship.
“Mr. President, please, accept my sincere thanks and appreciation for the opportunity to serve in the position of chairman, as well as my prayers for good progress and success for Nigeria in the years ahead.”
Before now, news of Kolade’s resignation had made the rounds early April, but this was later officially denied.
SURE-P had been mired in controversies for some time, with critics alleging that its funds were being warehoused by some of the state coordinators for President Jonathan’s re-election campaign in 2011.