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Amosun: The Beginning Of An Inglorious End
By Dayo Amusan
It is a common prayer that “our latter days should be better than our former”.
Otherwise, how best would one describe the recent faulty, disastrous and crazy happenings dotting the paths of Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun(SIA) in the twists light of his exit from power.
The popular maxim of “nothing lasts forever” is the best syndrome to describe the power-broke of the Governor’s resistance to accept defeat at the just concluded APC governorship primaries.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party had declared Prince Dapo Abiodun as the winner of the party’s governorship primary in the State.
Dapo Abiodun triumphed above other five contestants in the party, namely; Jimi Lawal, Bimbo Ashiru, Abayomi Hunye, Gbenga Kaka and Adekunle Akinlade with varying degrees of scores.
Governor Amosun has since refused to accept the candidature of Dapo Abiodun as Ogun APC governorship candidate but rather remained adamant that his preferred candidate, Adekunle Akinlade who had earlier emerged as the party’s governorship candidate through a highly compromised selection process by the governor and his state APC Exco, should by all means be accepted by the NWC of APC.
Since then, the power-drunk Governor has continued to dig deep into abysmal trenches like King Saul in the Bible.
But the Governor had soon forgotten that power is transient and does not last forever.
The Governor made a tactical error in trying to impose his consensus candidates on the entirety of the Party’s stakeholders without their proper buy-in.
The level of arrogance, self centeredness, maneuvering, posturing, deceit and raw power display that went into the whole charade from the on set, were all pointers to a failure.
How can an outgoing governor unilaterally selected the governorship candidate of his party and all the 40 National and State Assemblies members without giving a waiver for party leaders in the State? It beats all reasonable justification.
Ogun State is so sophisticated in composition for an individual wanting to lord it over the people.
Of course, it is in the public knowledge that the governor’s desperate effort to install his stooge as his successor was to cover his tracks of series of financial frauds and economic sabotage dotting his almost eight years’ administration.
The heavy indebtedness of “Emperor” Amosun’s administration to the detriment of the State’s future, running into N500Billion in a pace of seven and half years, is enough for the governor to ‘by-fire-by-force’ wanting to implant a makeshift as governor.
The wrestle of power by the governor with the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, is a pointer to the fact that Mr. Governor is preparing ground for an inglorious end.
The Governor’s insistence to handover power to Yewa/Awori man come 2019 is commendable, but that cannot be single-handedly determined by him, but with collective decision of all party’s stakeholders and such candidate must be widely accepted by the generality of the people across the zones.
No man is supreme or higher than the party’s constitution and leadership, but unfortunately in this case, Governor Amosun is also a candidate who is trying to install another candidate as the party’s governorship candidate.
As if that was not enough, the Governor wasted yet another state resources to broadcast live a charade called National Assembly primary of the party which was reportedly marred with violence and threat to life of dissent groups within the party.
Dapo Abiodun’s candidacy has been ratified and validated by the NWC of APC. What the governor should start perfecting is how to redeem his battered image and his political career after leaving office as governor.
Surprisingly, the governor was quoted to have threatened to quit the party if his preferred candidate was not adopted.
In fact, his foot soldiers and the supporters of his stooge, took to the social media to announce their botched defection plans to another party, variously; Accord Party and ADC Party.
But a top source from the Party’s National secretariat disclosed that the veil threat to expose the governor’s shady deals and his involvement in Kemi Adeosun’s NYSC scandal, instilled some senses in the recalcitrant Governor.
It was the threat by the National leaders of the party that, instigated the Governor to retract his decision and still stays in the party.
But still not satisfied with the resolutions of the matter, the Governor recently caused his political aides to institute a court case against the leadership of the Party and the accepted governorship candidate, Dapo
Abiodun, working round a theory of stalling the process of installing an APC governorship candidate in the State in 2019 general elections.
He will need to hire a high profile PR stunt to save his head on some unmitigated allegations leveled against him by some party echelons.
These allegations which will, sooner than later, expose his weaknesses include; the flukes in his infrastructure renewal that was sectionalised and highly inflated, his greed in wealth acquisition across the State, his underhand and failed corrupt dealings with multi nationals investing in the State, particularly the loss of the Dangote’s multi billion dollars Petro-chemical refinery investment to Lagos State.
Other disturbing allegations hinted by the sources are his alleged money laundry venture to the Asian circles, the failed Model schools’ projects across the State, and the wooping sums expended so far in desperate moves to implant a puppet with a view to cover his tracks.
The sources in the known said already an indicting petition on series of financial frauds and economic sabotage dotting his almost 8 years administration of the Governor has already been prepared for submission to EFCC.
From the various accounts stitched together from knowledgeable sources, the attempt to demystify Governor Amosun’s power intransigence will begin to manifest in the weeks ahead, signalling the beginning of his end and lost of relevance with the powers-that- be.
Dayo Amusan (DA) writes from Sagamu
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From Construction Sites to Community Service: Temitope Akinyemi Emerges as a Model of Leadership and Impact
Energy experts in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector have defended the pricing structure of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accusing some fuel markers of attempting to blackmail the refinery and mislead the public over the recent increase in petrol prices.
The experts said reports suggesting that the refinery’s latest adjustment is solely responsible for the recent hike in fuel prices were misleading, noting that importers are also bringing in petrol at almost a N1,000 per litre, while the refinery’s coastal price is N948 and the gantry or ex-depot price stands at N995 per litre.
They stressed that public comparisons fail to consider the differences in pricing structures and supply channels.
According to the experts, N948 per litre represents the coastal delivery price, which refers to petroleum products transported by marine vessels or barges from the refinery to depots along the coastline. On the other hand, N995 per litre represents the gantry or ex-depot price, which is the rate paid by marketers who load petrol directly from the refinery into tanker trucks at the loading gantry for onward distribution across the country.
The experts explained that the two figures should not be interpreted as conflicting prices but rather as different logistics arrangements within the petroleum distribution chain.
Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, energy expert David Okon said the pricing adjustments were inevitable given prevailing market conditions.
According to him, Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals operates in a deregulated market and procures crude at international prices, which have risen sharply due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
“The refinery is already absorbing part of the cost to cushion the impact of the crisis on Nigerians. We can see what is happening in other parts of the world where shortages and scarcity are being reported despite higher prices, yet the Dangote Refinery has continued to guarantee domestic supply,” he said.
Okon explained that when the refinery previously sold petrol at N774 per litre, crude oil was landing at about $68 per barrel. However, with crude now arriving at roughly $95 per barrel, the cost difference of about $27 per barrel translates to nearly N40,000 per barrel when converted to Naira.
“You cannot expect a refinery to continue selling at the old rate under those circumstances,” he added.
“If imported products were truly cheaper, importers would still be selling at the previous prices.”
He warned that without local refining capacity, Nigeria could have faced severe fuel shortages, long queues at filling stations and a resurgence of black market sales.
“Without the Dangote Refinery, many filling stations would likely shut down, queues would return across the country and black market traders would exploit the situation, hawking four litres keg at N20,000 or more. The refinery has effectively prevented that scenario,” he said.
Another analyst, Mohammed Ibrahim, also faulted narratives circulating in some quarters suggesting that the refinery’s pricing adjustment was responsible for worsening economic hardship in the country.
Accusing some importers of attempting to manipulate public perception, he said, “What we are seeing is nothing but deliberate blackmail by some fuel importers who feel threatened by local refining.
“They are twisting the pricing structure to mislead Nigerians and create unnecessary panic in the market.
“By exaggerating the refinery’s gantry price and ignoring the comparable costs of imported fuel, they are trying to make it appear as though Dangote Refinery is the cause of rising prices and economic hardship. This is a calculated attempt to protect their import businesses and undermine local refining, which is meant to reduce our dependence on imported petrol.”
Ibrahim added that such narratives were aimed at portraying the refinery as the reason Nigerians were struggling with higher petrol prices.
He stressed that petrol pricing in Nigeria is largely influenced by global crude oil prices, exchange rate fluctuations, and distribution logistics, noting that these factors affect both locally refined and imported fuel in the country’s deregulated market.
Afolabi Olowookere, Managing Director and Chief Economist at Analysts’ Data Services and Resources (ADSR) Limited, explained that although Nigerians expect refined products from the refinery to be significantly cheaper, prevailing market realities such as global crude oil prices, the cost of crude supply and refining margins make substantial price reductions unlikely in the short term.
“Therefore, improving domestic crude allocation to the refinery would strengthen supply stability and enhance the long term benefits of local refining for the economy,” Olowookere noted.
Recent conflicts in the Middle East and disruptions along key shipping lanes have tightened global oil supply, pushing crude prices past $90 per barrel, a development that directly raises the cost of both imported and locally refined petrol in Nigeria.
The unrest has pushed up fuel costs and transportation in several countries, including Ghana, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Canada, Brazil, Germany, France, and Japan, as rising crude prices increase the cost of refining, distribution, and logistics globally.
CHETACHI NWOGA-ECTON EMPOWERS 300 WIDOWS IN IMO
A renowned humanitarian and proud daughter of Mbaise in Imo State, High Chief (Dr.) Princess Chetachi Nwoga-Ecton, has empowered over 300 widows and vulnerable women across the Owerri Zone, in a remarkable demonstration of compassion and service to humanity.
The empowerment programme, which took place at the Palace of the Eze of Ngor Okpala, HRH Eze Engr. Fredrick Nwachukwu, brought together community leaders, traditional rulers, women groups and beneficiaries from different communities within the zone.
During the event, the widows received food materials and cash support, aimed at helping them meet basic needs and strengthen their small-scale businesses.
The initiative was widely applauded as a timely intervention to support women who often face severe economic hardship after losing their spouses.
Many of the beneficiaries expressed heartfelt appreciation to High Chief (Dr.) Nwoga-Ecton, describing the empowerment as a lifeline that would help them take better care of their families.
Some widows, while offering prayers for the philanthropist, noted that the gesture had restored hope and dignity in their lives.
Fondly known as Ada Imo and Adaure, High Chief (Dr.) Princess Chetachi Nwoga-Ecton has earned widespread admiration for her consistent humanitarian efforts both within Nigeria and internationally.
Through her philanthropic activities and foundations, she has continued to support widows, children, and vulnerable communities with interventions in healthcare, welfare and economic empowerment.
Community stakeholders who attended the programme commended the Mbaise-born philanthropist for her generosity and dedication to uplifting the less privileged, noting that her actions reflect true leadership and compassion.
Observers say the initiative further reinforces her growing reputation as one of the most impactful humanitarians of this generation, whose commitment to humanity continues to inspire hope across Imo State and beyond.
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