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For how much longer will the venerable Dr. Christopher Kolade hang on as Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P)?

That was the big question last night after the news broke of the verbal attack launched against the integrity of SURE-P by the country’s Christian youths.

Addressing a World Press Conference at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, the Youth Wing Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) declared that SURE-P has derailed and ought not to be taken seriously anymore.

“On the current SURE-P programme, we observed with dismay that having used the Nigeria youths to endorse the subsidy re-investment with good promises, the programme has turned out to be a sham and complete deceit,” said YOWICAN President Dr. Simon Dolly (JP) in an unequivocal indictment of President Goodluck Jonathan and Dr. Kolade – both Christians.

The Christian youths found it necessary “to remind Mr. President and his team to fulfill their pledges and stop politicizing this economic virtue.”

News Express reports that Dr. Kolade, who is widely known as “Mr. Integrity”, has lately come under increasing pressure to walk away from the job so as to save his name. As reported two days ago by News Express, the 80 years old former Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain made a move to resign three days ago but was persuaded to stay on.

SURE-P was introduced by the Nigerian Government to manage savings from the unpopular withdrawal of fuel subsidy in January 2012. The partial subsidy withdrawal had sparked protests that ground parts of Nigeria, forcing government to restore part of the subsidy and introduce palliatives, among them the establishmet of SURE-P, which has however turned out to be a hope betrayed.

•Photo: President Jonathan.

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