Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, described the Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) as a failure.

The party's statement followed Wednesday's protest by beneficiaries of the programme who alleged non-payment of their three-month salaries.

They also alleged that the scheme was being politicised as only members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were favoured.

But the SURE-P Coordinator, Barrister Moses Ibiyemi, in a chat with Daily Trust, said the protesters were sponsored by the APC to paint the federal government in bad light, adding that those protesting were not beneficiaries of the scheme. He said the beneficiaries were not selected on the basis of membership of any political party, adding: "We are not owing them. Majority of those people that you saw do not belong to SURE-P. And like I said, it has political connotation."

However, the APC in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, said: "The hitherto struggling SURE-P scheme in Kwara State has snowballed into a failed scheme. What in this world would be Mr Moses Ibiyemi's justification for non-payment of stipend to thousands of SURE-P beneficiaries, when all Kwarans still purchase Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at the rate of N97/litre or more? The issues raised on the management of SURE-P in Kwara State by the victimised beneficiaries are genuine."

The party urged President Goodluck Jonathan to call the SURE-P coordinator to order, saying "Mr Ibiyemi's divisive actions in the management of SURE-P in Kwara State have climaxed into a disturbing and dangerous level."

Meanwhile, Chief Engineer of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in the state, Engr. Bamidele Ige, has clarified that the 153 participants of SURE-P posted to the agency in the state were not part of the protesters.

He said the 153 SURE-P staff were serving with the public works department of the agency and currently participating in ongoing road projects in the state.