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BIG STORY

Governor Amosun, Loyalists Set To Dump APC

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Indications emerged on Wednesday that Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and the entire All Progressives Congress structure in the state may decamp from the party on Thursday (today).

Elders of the party at a meeting on Wednesday evening in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, resolved that the controversy on the gubernatorial ticket should be put behind them as they prepare for the 2019 elections.

The resolution was arrived at after Governor Amosun had reportedly briefed the elders on all attempts made to validate the election of Hon. Abiodun Akinlade in the gubernatorial primaries in the state penultimate week.

The primaries ran into troubled waters when the State Chairman of the party announced the election of Akinlade, while the Chairman of the National Working Committee on the gubernatorial primary announced Prince Dapo Abiodun as the winner of the election.

The conflict remained unresolved and the Presidency directed primaries into state and federal legislative houses to establish the truth about conflicting claims of strength between the group led by Vice President Yemi Osibajo, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Dapo Abiodun on the one hand and Governor Amosun on the other.

The Amosun group claimed to have won all available seats, including three Senate, nine House of Representatives and 26 House of Assembly seats, leaving no seat for the Osinbajo/ Osoba group.

The son of Osoba, Olumide, who contested the House of Representatives ticket for Abeokuta Federal Constituency, was said to have been defeated by Hon. Muiz Kazeem by 23,000 votes to 4,050 votes.

However, the result, which was announced by the NWC committee in Abeokuta did not resolve the crisis.

The Osinbajo/Osoba group, which though accepted the result, consented to Akinlade as the gubernatorial candidate but on the condition that they were given two out of the three senatorial tickets, four out of the nine House of Representative tickets and 13 out of the 26 House of Assembly tickets.

The Amosun group rejected the request, insisting on the party respecting the outcome of the primary elections.

“It is clear that a candidate who lost all senatorial, representatives and Assembly seats could not have won the gubernatorial ticket. The party should do the right thing or else we leave,” a party official who pleaded anonymity said.

He explained that the party leaders had given up on the national leadership of the party but it was Governor Amosun who insisted on pursuing their aspirations on the platform of the APC because of his closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The source added: “He told us that the President had instructed (the National Chairman of the APC, Adams) Oshiomole to announce the authentic result of the gubernatorial primaries, but he refused.

“If the President cannot enforce his orders, then he has lost control of his government and it is a waste of time defending him at the expense of our own future.

“If he refuses to accept our request, we will leave the governor alone with his friend.”

BIG STORY

Lagos State Begins Strict Enforcement Of Styrofoam, Single-Use Plastics Ban Today

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In a bold effort to protect the environment and safeguard public health, the Lagos State Government has officially begun enforcing the ban on the sale and use of Styrofoam and single-use plastics throughout the state.

Commissioner for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that enforcement takes effect from today, July 1, 2025.

“Many believed that after the last period of grace, the state government would succumb to blackmail and the spread of half-truths to extend the deadline. But this is a total no,” Wahab said.

He stressed that the decision is rooted in the government’s responsibility to preserve lives, protect property, and promote the overall health of residents.

“There is no going back. Anyone found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the state’s environmental laws,” he added.

The ban seeks to address the environmental damage caused by non-biodegradable waste, which has been a major contributor to flooding, marine pollution, and public health issues in Lagos.

Residents, businesses, and food vendors are encouraged to switch to environmentally friendly packaging alternatives as part of the state’s ongoing campaign for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos.

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BIG STORY

Law Enforcement Agencies Benefitted From Petrol Subsidy Scam — Former EFCC Chairman Bawa

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Abdulrasheed Bawa, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says law enforcement agencies were among the beneficiaries of the petrol subsidy fraud.

In his latest publication, The Shadow of Loot & Losses: Uncovering Nigeria’s Petroleum Subsidy Fraud, Bawa revealed that Nigeria lost $450 million to the subsidy scam under the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) between 2006 and 2012.

He noted that several oil marketers involved were prosecuted and jailed, with 80 percent of the embezzled funds recovered.

During an interview on Arise Television’s programme Prime Time, Bawa pointed out that many individuals tied to the fraud were compromised.

“Everybody was benefitting from the scale and the scam, including law enforcement,” Bawa said.

“People can be compromised in such a way that they will look the other way around. It’s a general thing.”

The former anti-corruption chief also urged Nigeria to push back against damaging external narratives, particularly the idea of “relooting” recovered public funds.

He argued that the country must reject the perception that it is involved in “relooting the loot”, a term used to describe alleged misuse of retrieved assets.

“Nigeria should be able to challenge the international community that is always thinking negative about our country,” he said.

“This idea of relooting the loot shouldn’t be discussed against us as a country. Nigerians and non-Nigerians should have the ability to trust in our leaders.”

Bawa further stated that Nigerians have increasingly accepted negative portrayals imposed by foreign voices.

“It has now become like a norm among us Nigerians to take in what the international community perceives us to be,” he added.

When asked about the repeated controversies surrounding EFCC chairs, Bawa dismissed suggestions of political witch-hunting but acknowledged the recurring pattern.

“It’s just a phase that has to come and go. People always talk. Whether you’re telling the truth or not, people will say something,” he said.

Bawa served as EFCC chairman from 2021 to 2023.

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BIG STORY

Reps Kick As Ibas Allocates N24bn For CCTV, N30bn For Gunboats In Rivers’ 2025 Budget

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The ad hoc committee of the house of representatives overseeing Rivers state has criticised Ibok-Ete Ibas, the state’s sole administrator, over certain allocations in the N1.48 trillion 2025 budget.

The senate had approved the N1.48 trillion appropriation bill for Rivers state on June 25.

A breakdown of the budget shows that N120.8 billion is designated for debt servicing, N287.38 billion for recurrent non-debt spending, and N1.077 trillion for capital projects.

At a budget defence session in Abuja on Monday, Julius Ihonvbere, the house majority leader and chair of the ad hoc committee, highlighted several concerns after reviewing the proposal.

Ihonvbere raised questions about the N24 billion set aside for CCTV, the N30 billion allocated for gunboats, and the N23 billion marked as contingency funds. He called for a full explanation and justification of these figures.

He noted that the budget lacked a medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF), which is a statutory requirement.

Ihonvbere also questioned the state’s decision to finance federal projects without a formal reimbursement agreement from the federal government.

He requested detailed records of local government fund transfers, including how third-tier funds are currently managed.

“We need additional details for those allocations. We request details of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the last three months,” he said.

“That will enable us to know your financial flows so that we can weigh it against the deficit in the budget in terms of financing it and carrying out some of the projects.

“We also need details of transfers to local governments — essentially, how local government funds that came into the state are being managed at the moment.

“Those documents we have requested must reach us within 48 hours; rest assured that we are all on the same side in terms of getting Rivers working again.

“We want to ensure that we promote a lot of accountability and ensure that the interests of the people themselves, no matter how remote they are from the state capital, are protected.”

Responding for Ibas, Andrew Nweke, senior special assistant on strategy and policy, explained that many of the budget items were inherited by the current administration.

He said the allocations align with the priorities identified by the people of Rivers, following assessments conducted by implementing agencies.

Nweke said the CCTV allocation was intended for installing modern surveillance systems at the government house.

He also said the gunboats were designated for supporting security agencies in patrolling the state’s waterways.

He added that the contingency funds would be used to address emergencies such as flooding and insecurity.

He assured the committee that the requested documents would be submitted.

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