Rountrip

The political history of Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency is anchored on an unwritten but respected power rotation agreement between the two local governments since 1999. This arrangement has ensured fairness, unity, and peaceful coexistence between Idanre and Ifedore, making the constituency one of the most politically stable in Ondo State. --- Historical Background The mutual understanding was further reinforced in 2011, when the Senatorial slot for Ondo Central was ceded to the Idanre/Ifedore axis. At that time, Ifedore leaders voluntarily conceded the Senate position to Idanre for eight (8) years — a decision that produced Senator Ayo Akinyelure. That gentleman’s agreement was sealed at a meeting of elders and political leaders held in Idanre and has since guided the political order in the constituency. --- POWER ROTATION RECORD (1999–2027) S/N NAME LOCAL GOVT TENURE PARTY 1 Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Fagite Ifedore 1999–2003 AD 2 Hon. Augustus Adebayo Ifedore 2003–2007 PDP 3 Hon. Jones ...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Wing has welcomed Hon. Muhammad Lawal Kuryar Madaro, the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Kaura Namoda South State House of Assembly, following his defection to the APC.  The group said the development signals a growing wave of support for the APC under the visionary leadership of Dr. Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence.  In a statement signed by Comrade Danjuma Nuhu, the APC National Youth Wing celebrated Kurya’s move as a bold embrace of progress and an unequivocal rejection of Governor Dauda Lawal’s catastrophic administration. Kurya’s defection follows his crushing defeat in the August supplementary election, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APC’s Kamilu Sa’idu the rightful winner of the Kaura Namoda South constituency.  Returning Officer Lawal Sa’adu from the Federal University Gusau confirmed Sa’idu’s triumph, securing 1,181 votes against Kurya...

By Toby Prince As Plato aptly stated, “Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.” This profound assertion underscores the necessity of wisdom to distinguish belief from truth. Without clear understanding, opinions, no matter how well-intentioned, remain elusive and inherently subjective, lacking the objectivity required for transformative progress. To transition from ignorance to knowledge, rigorous interrogation, analysis, and redefinition are essential. This philosophical backdrop frames the remarkable leadership of Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, the Interim Chairman of the African Petroleum Regulatory Forum (AFRIPERF), whose tenure exemplifies a paradigm shift in Africa’s petroleum sector. His appointment is not merely a recognition of personal excellence but a testament to the trust placed in him by African leaders in the oil and gas industry. Engr. Komolafe’s years of consistent, transformative leadership have catalyzed significant reforms, positioning Nigeria as a continenta...

A United Kingdom–based energy watchdog, Impact Investigators Platform (IIP), has dismissed allegations that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery imported substandard petrol into Nigeria, describing the claims as “technically inaccurate, commercially implausible, and unsupported by verifiable evidence”. In an investigative report signed on Friday by its lead investigator, Raymond Neil, the IIP said its independent assessment of shipping data, customs declarations, and refinery process documentation found no indication that the refinery imported or sold finished Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with sulphur levels above Nigeria’s approved limit of 50 parts per million (ppm). Neil said the IIP launched its own investigation after media reports claimed that a vessel had delivered high-sulphur petrol to the Dangote Refinery under the guise of locally refined products. The investigator, however, noted that the cargo in question was an intermediate feedstock; a raw material commonly traded among refineri...

Hon. Philip Agbese, the Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives has defended former Kogi State, Governor Yahaya Bello, asserting that he will emerge stronger from the ongoing money laundering allegations levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Speaking yesterday outside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, Agbese stood in solidarity with Bello, describing the trial as a test of a patriot’s resilience rather than evidence of wrongdoing. In an impassioned address to journalists and supporters gathered after Thursday’s court proceedings, the lawmaker representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency described Bello as a leader of unblemished integrity. “Yahaya Bello is one Nigerian who cannot and will never steal a dime from the public purse,” he declared emphatically. “I have known Yahaya for over two decades, and I can vouch for his character as a patriot, a nationalist, and a man wholly dedicated to the pro...

In a significant political shift in Zamfara State, Hon. Muhammad Lawal Kuryar Madaro, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate who woefully lost the Kaura Namoda South State House of Assembly election, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The move was announced today at a high-profile gathering organised by Hon. Yazeed Shehu Danfulani Projects at the Taula Arena in Gusau. The defection comes just months after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APC's Kamilu Sa’idu the victor in the August supplementary election for the Kaura Namoda South constituency. Returning Officer Lawal Sa’adu from the Federal University Gusau confirmed Sa’idu's triumph, with the APC candidate securing 1,181 votes against Kurya's 194 in the runoff. Overall, across the constituency, the APC amassed 8,182 votes to the PDP's 5,544, highlighting the APC's strong grip despite the high-stakes contest reportedly backed by a multi-billion naira war c...

Reform driven citizens under the umbrella of the Citizens Connect Conference has praised President Bola Tinubu's achievements in the oil and gas sector. Speaking at the 1st Citizens Connect Conference in Lagos, the Convener of the group, Charles Abakpa Onoja, said the President has restored national confidence in the oil and gas sector. In his opening address, Onoja said: “Let us begin where much of Nigeria’s story has always been written—our oil and gas sector. For decades, this sector symbolised both our promise and our pain. “We have heard stories of corruption, inefficiency, and missed opportunities. Yet today, there is a new story unfolding — a story of reform, renewal, and restoration. “Under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, and through the diligent leadership of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) led by Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, the sector has been reborn on the firm foundation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). What Nigerians are witnes...