Opara was said to have been sacked two hours after attending an official assignment.
A terse statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal, said the decision was with effect from Thursday May 19, 2016.
Buhari, however, thanked him for his invaluable services to the nation and wishes him well in his future endeavours.
The statement read, “His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has in the exercise of his powers, approved the disengagement of Mr. John Kennedy Opara as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission with effect from Thursday May 19 2016.
“Mr. President, however, thanked him for his invaluable services to the nation and wishes him well in his future endeavours.”
Ironically, Opara who appeared to be the ‘last man standing’, among the allies of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was sacked barely two hours after attending the third session of the 9th synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), with the theme: “The poverty of riches.”
That was his last official assignment as ES of NCPC.
…promises enhanced security in Niger Delta
Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday assured oil companies operating in the Niger Delta that the Federal Government was taking all necessary actions to protect strategic assets in the region from vandals and criminals.
A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted the President as saying this while receiving the Global Director (Upstream) of the Royal Dutch Shell Group, Mr. Andrew Brown, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
There have been renewed cases of vandalism in the region with militants targeting oil and gas facilities.
But Buhari told his guest that he had directed the Chief of Naval Staff to reorganise and strengthen the military Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta.
He said the reorganisation was meant to deal effectively with the resurgence of militancy and the sabotage of oil installations.
He said it was important for his government to take the issue seriously because it threatens the nation’s economy.
The President said the operations of the JTF were also being enhanced with increased support and cooperation from the United States and Europe in the areas of training, intelligence, equipment and logistics.
“We have to be very serious with the situation in the Niger Delta because it threatens the national economy. I assure you that everything possible will be done to protect personnel and oil assets in the region,” Buhari said.
The President urged aggrieved persons, militants and communities in the Niger Delta to drop their confrontational stance and work with those who have been charged by the Federal Government to review the Amnesty Programme initiated by the Yar’Adua administration for the benefit of all parties.
He praised what he described as the resilience and staying power of Shell in Nigeria despite the operational challenges of the environment.
Buhari urged the company to do its best to end gas-flaring in the Niger Delta quickly and produce more gas for electricity generation to support manufacturing and job creation in the country.
Brown had earlier appealed for an urgent solution to rising crime and militancy in the Niger Delta.
The Shell Executive also dispelled speculation that the company was pulling out of Nigeria.
He said contrary to such speculation, Shell was currently in discussions with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on new joint oil and gas projects.
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