LG political functionaries urge Makinde to run for Presidency in 2027 - ITREALMS

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Local Government political functionaries across Oyo State have urged Governor ‘Seyi Makinde to contest the 2027 presidential election, citing his leadership record and economic reforms in the state.

The call was made on Tuesday at a solidarity rally held at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, which drew together Local Government Secretaries, Chiefs of Staff to Council Chairmen, Supervisory Councillors, and Special Assistants from all 33 local government areas.

New chapter @African Development Bank Group as Sidi Ould Tah takes over presidency - ITREALMS

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The African Development Bank Group is embarking on a new chapter with the inauguration of Dr. Sidi Ould Tah as its 9th President, reports ITREALMS.

Born in 1964, the same year the bank was founded, Dr. Tah brings a wealth of experience and a legacy of unity to his new role.

Aliyu, Onyeukwu elected for second term @NCS Presidency – ITREALMS

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… Ileibiyi also as lead Publicity, Events, and Trade Services

The incumbent president of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, has won his second term bid at the just concluded 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the city of Kano, Kano State, reports ITREALMS.

His re-election followed a successful first tenure, during which he championed initiatives to take ICT to the grassroots and ensure technology's role in national development. 

Presidency nominates Adebayo, Opeke, Walama & Fatima for USP board - ITREaLMS

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The presidency has nominated some four distinguished Nigerians into the board of the Universal Service Provision (USP) in the country, reports ITREALMS.

The nominees, ITREALMS gathered include Ms. Funke Opeke, Mr. Ahmed Abubakar Walama, Mrs. Fatima and Engr. Gbenga Adebayo.

Gemsbok boss endorses Peter Obi presidency, outlines 10-point strategies to woo north – ITREALMS

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South African-based Nigerian cybersecurity expert and chief executive officer of Gemsbok Group, Mr. Charles Awuzie has endorsed the candidacy of Mr. Peter Obi as the presidential flagbearer of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, reports ITREALMS.

Awuzie who also is a member of Forbes Business Council Member and leader of #Transhumanism in Africa, outlined a 10-point strategies on how to sell Peter Obi to Nigerians, especially the north.

2023: Who'll go for Ndigbo? – Our best 3 candidates - ITREALMS

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With 2023 just around the corner, the race to determine who succeeds incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari as the holder of the top job in Nigeria is beginning to gather steam.

Already, several candidates have thrown their hats into the ring, with some of them, like the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu not hiding their clear interest in the presidency.

Adewale Martins to Presidency: Don’t take our insistence for peace for granted

ITREALMS:

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Lordship, Alfred Adewale Martins has warned the Presidency led by Mohammadu Buhari, not to take the resolve of Catholics for peaceful resolution of problems for granted, reports ITRealms.

Archbishop Martins who led over 3 million Catholics in Lagos Archdiocese to a peaceful protest over incessant killings of Nigerians by terrorists herdsmen on Tuesday in an open letter delivered to Governor’s Office in Alausa-Lagos, and made available to ITRealms, said Catholics recognize the strength in seeking and insisting on peaceful resolution of problems.

“So, we hope that will not be taken for granted,” he warned.

He noted that they are mourning with heavy hearts the murder of two priests, Rev. Frs. Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha and 17 lay faithful who were mowed down last month, April 16, while attending an early morning Mass at St Ignatius Catholic Church, Ukpor-Mbalom, Gwer Local Government of Benue State.

According to him, by these killings, the perpetrators, who unfortunately are still roaming about freely, have further desecrated all that we hold dear as Christians and dared us to do our worst.

“As these men and women of faith are committed to mother earth today in Makurdi, we bid them perpetual rest in the bosom of our Lord, even as we say with one voice, enough is enough. We can no longer stay still and watch our fellow humans butchered like chickens,” Martins maintained.

He also said that justice cries out for all the innocent Nigerians who have died in the hands of the gun totting herdsmen.

“We are aware that the Vice President recently promised that the Federal Government would undertake the rebuilding of the places that were destroyed by the killer-herdsmen in Benue State and hopefully in other similar places.

“We hope that people will also be compensated for the loss of their farm produce and of their properties so that the Internally Displaced People who have been turned to beggars will get justice and restoration to normal life. Very importantly, we urge you, Mr President, to direct the security agencies to wake up, fish out the perpetrators of these callous killings and neutralize them so that people can once again feel safe.

“We pride ourselves with having some of the best security agencies in the world. This is the time for them to prove their mettle by bringing an end to these killings.

“Mr President, that time has come for you to act fast and put to rest all the insinuations being pandered all over about you. We reiterate that our call for your urgent intervention is borne out of our deep patriotism and desire to save the country from imminent crisis that could snowball into ethnic, tribal or religious war,” he urged.

The Archbishop further prayed God to grant Mr. President and his team the wherewithal to carry out their duties and bring peace, security and growth to the nation.

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Dapchi girls abduction, release: PDP accuses APC, Presidency of war crime, seeks UN intervention

ITREALMS:

While appreciating God Almighty, on the return of the abducted and release of some of the Dapchi School girls, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and certain officials in the Presidency of war crimes, reports ITRealms.

According to the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a press statement made available to ITRealms said that for staging the abduction of the schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State, for political purposes, APC leadership deserves international prosecution for war crime.

“Our Party considers this act as wicked, callous and tormenting to use innocent schoolgirls as pawns in an ignoble script that was designed to hoodwink Nigerians and orchestrate a great rescue and security prowess of a conquering general, all to push a 2019 reelection bid, is an unpardonable gamble with human lives.

“While this failed Dapchi drama remains a poorly crafted tragicomedy: a scam of no equal dimension, Nigerians are not ready to forgive the APC and the Presidency for the torments inflicted on the girls, their parents and the human community worldwide just to score a cheap political point,” he said.

Nigerians, PDP said, know that the main aim of this devilish act was to delude the public, set the stage for an orchestrated rescue, create a heroic myth and false sense of achievement around the APC administration and serve as a spur for President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to contest the 2019 presidential election, perhaps in the coming weeks.

As a political party, PDP said it wants to further state unequivocally that by all ramifications, “this is a war crime against humanity and gross violation of human rights on the part of the APC administration, all in the bid to push a selfish and ill-lucked 2019 ambition.”

PDP insisted that “there is no evidence that the Boko Haram insurgents or any militant group abducted the schoolgirls in the first place. Rather, what is evident to all is the high level official manipulation of security movements in Dapchi both in the staged abduction and the returning of the traumatized schoolgirls.”

“It is instructive to note that till date, no report has been presented by the National Security Adviser (NSA), who has been charged by President Muhammadu Buhari with investigation of the abduction. This is in addition to deliberate efforts by the government to suppress free flow of information around the abduction.

“Even the regular Nigerian on the street has examined the events leading to this abduction of our daughters as well as their release and can deduce the obvious.

“Nigerians are all aware that both the abduction and return of the schoolgirls were dramatically preceded by questionable withdrawal of troops and all security apparati at checkpoints and flashpoints in the Dapchi area.

“They are also aware that the Buhari Presidency, as the principal command center of military operations, has refused to come out clear on the compromising of security and why no arrest has so far been affected in the entire saga, thus betraying a high-level of government conspiracy against the citizens for political reasons.

“The PDP therefore calls on the United Nations (UN) and the International Criminal Court to declare this evil by the APC Federal Government a war crime against humanity and immediately commence investigation on the matter. We demand the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in this saga.

“In the same vein, we join Nigerians to demand for the setting up of a UN monitored Truth Commission to unravel the facts around the Dapchi event as well as the abduction of Schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State in 2014.

“While we commiserate with the families of our loved daughters and rejoice with those whose daughters were brought home safely, we urge Nigerians to be alert and continue to monitor the activities of the APC as we approach the 2019 general election since it is now clear that this government will stop at nothing in its desperate bid to perpetuate itself in power against the will of the people,” PDP submitted.

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Why Presidency named dead persons on MDA boards

ITREALMS:

The Presidency has adduced some reasons on why it named some dead persons on the boards of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government released Friday, reports ITRealms.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Garba Shehu accepted there were some names of dead persons on the list of the over 1000 newly appointed chairmen and members of board of government parastatals and agencies.

ITRealms gathered the list was released on Friday by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Shehu also revealed the list was prepared at the early stages of President Muhammadu Buhari , but was inadvertently delayed due to President illness which took him away for about six months on medical vacation.

This, Presidency said, was subsequently released by the newly appointed SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha who replaced Babachir Lawal, “without any alteration.”

The President, Shehu disclosed had requested for the submission of 50 names each by the state chapters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2015 which were later complied by the National Secretariat of the party.

“However, complaint arose from some governors who felt they were not carried along in the process. To answer this, the president constituted a committee under the vice president to review and reflect the interest of the governors,” he said.

Shehu further said that action on the report submitted to the President by the committee headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was delayed because of President Buhari’s illness and subsequent medical vacation abroad.

“The president’s trips for medical attention slowed down completion of the process,” he declared, stressing that the president only decided to revisit the matter recently and directed the new SGF to release the list of some 1467 persons including chairmen and members of boards of some federal agencies.

“The current SGF was only directed to complete that process by releasing the list which he apparently did without altering it,” Shehu insisted.

He said that the appearance of dead person’s names on the list was a mistake which would be corrected.

The President had approved the constitution of the Governing Boards of Agencies and Parastatals, under some Ministries, as well as the appointment of eminently qualified Nigerians to fill the Board positions.

One of the prominent appointments out of the 1,467 named by presidency was that of the chairman of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), given to late Senator Francis Okposo, who reportedly died on December 26, 2016.

The appointment took immediate effect.

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Presidency: Kolade faults quality of communications

ITRealms:

The elder statesman and former ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK), Dr Christopher Kolade has condemned the poor quality of communication emanating from the Presidency, citing the “rodents” issue as an example of “unedifying communication,” reports ITRealms.

Kolade, former Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria and former chancellor of Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, spoke on “The Pursuit of Excellence” at the first annual lecture of the Cadbury Nigeria Alumni Association,  a gathering of former employees of the FMCG firm, held at the weekend in Lagos.

He decried the regression of professionalism across many sectors in Nigeria, citing lack of trust as one of the factors for the continued strikes across many areas.

Kolade, a renowned communication professional and former Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, noted, “We should not be too embarrassed to mention the shortage of excellence in the quality of communication in governance, as we recall that, not too long ago, the nation’s President arrived back from overseas, and decided that he would work from home for a few days.

He wondered why anyone has to explain that to Nigeria, pointed out that the President’s home  in this context is only a few metres away from his office, and “he, like you and me, is eminently free to decide where he will physically sit for the successful performance of his duties.’

He described the explanation that rodents had displaced the head of state from his exalted office space, for the maintenance of which the nation makes generous allocations of human and financial resources in every annual budget!

“Would the announcer of that information proudly display that to other members of his professional constituency as an example of best practice in edifying communication,” he decried.

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SGF Suspension: Who’s the presidency asked Babachir Lawal

ITRealms:

The suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachi Lawal, has told reporters to ask the “presidency” why he was suspended, retorting ‘Who’s the presidency’ reports ITRealms.

Obviously reacting to his suspension after a closed door meeting with Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo at the state house, Mr. Lawal was caught on tape, Wednesday shortly after his suspension was announced.

However, correspondent informed him that his suspension was announced by the presidency, he retorted: “Who is the presidency?”

Detail transcription of that encounter is here:

Reporters: Your suspension has just been announced. How will you react to the development?

Lawal: Who announced it?

Reporters: The presidency

Lawal: Then ask them. Why are you asking me? Who is the presidency?

Reporters: Have you been informed of the suspension?

Lawal: By who? About what. What about you? Have you been informed?

Reporters: Yes sir.

Lawal: By who?

Reporters: By the Presidency sir.

Lawal: I have not seen it. I should have been given… I have not seen the press release so I cannot comment on it.

Reporters: It is currently trending online. Are you doubting the authenticity of the statement?

Lawal: I have not seen it.

Reporters: Tell us the outcome of your meeting with the vice-president.

Lawal: I am always here. I always meet the vice-president. I used to come here even before I was made SGF.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Buhari’s Friday return raises anxiety @Presidency

ITRealms:

The much anticipated return of President Muhammadu Buhari is creating some anxiety among Nigerians who are eagerly waiting to behold their president, reports ITRealms.

This is approaching as even more anxiety was reportedly heightened at the Presidency, where the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has been acting which some observers who would not like to be named have been working out well.

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to return to the country tomorrow, Friday March 10, 2017.

Announcing the expected return of Buhari after weeks of extended vacation in the United Kingdom, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said, the holiday was extended based on doctors' recommendation for further tests and rest.

ITRealms, recalls that President Buhari left Nigeria on January 19, 2017 for a vacation, during which he had routine medical check-ups.

According to Adesina, President Buhari expressed appreciation to teeming Nigerians from across the country, and beyond, who had prayed fervently for him, and also sent their good wishes.

Aside the anxiety at the presidency, socio-economic political observers said the gains made against the United States Dollar ($) may shrink, therefore scaling up to some N500 per dollar, due to some body languages of Mr. President.

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N500m bribe to Presidency: MTN refutes allegation

ITRealms:

The MTN Nigeria has refuted a N500m bribery allegation arising from the fine recently issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) due to infractions committed by the mobile network operator, reports ITRealms.

An online whistle blower, ITRealms gathered, had proclaimed that the Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Abba Kyari took kickback worth N500m from the telecommunication mobile operator to subvert the incurred fine through his office to less than initially charged.

This brought a lot of questioning at the Presidency, especially the so-called anti-corruption crusade of the federal government.

The report also alleged that ‘physical’ evidence to affirm that actually bribe exchanged hands was presented to President Buhari sequel to his trip to the United National General Assembly.

But reacting on our inquiry, MTN dismissed the allegation in a press statement made available to ITRealms.

MTN said, its attention has been drawn to an online report alleging that a top official in the Presidency took a payment ‘from operators of MTN’ towards reducing the fine.

The Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Ferdi Moolman, said that MTN Nigeria has no knowledge of this and the allegation is therefore denied. 

Although the MTN Nigeria fine was eventually resolved with the NCC a few weeks back, even though the earlier report said the deal may have been concealed as part of Sallah homage.

Stressing the evidence was presented to President Buhari several times including during the Sallah holiday.

 

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Breaking News: NCC sends names of potential Commissioners to Presidency

Breaking News @ITRealms:

In fulfillment of its statutory obligations, the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has sent list of potential Six Commissioners and one Executive Commissioner to the Presidency, reports ITRealms.

Presently, there is only one Executive Commissioner (Technical Services) Engr. Ubale A. Maska who has been working with the Executive Vice Chairman at the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta.

Disclosing this in Lagos at a one-day forum on Corporate Governance while responding to question by ITRealms, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said that a list has been compiled by his office and forwarded to the Presidency for consideration.

He also agreed that the appointment of these commissioners are essential and must cut across the six-geo-political zones of the country in addition to the two executive commissioners, would immensely facilitate the work of the Commission.

According to him, it would be fool handy to be discussing corporate governance in a forum like this without first of all ensuring that the NCC is in good standing in line with the statutes setting up the Commission, hence the list has since been dispatched to Presidency.

ITRealms gathered that the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission by law should consist of nine Commissioners made up of six Non-executive members, including the Chairman, representing each of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and three Executive members, including the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive and two Executive Commissioners.

He, therefore, urged corporate organisations within the sector to ensure compliance because NCC is now taking the issue more seriously, especially looking at Code of Corporate Governance for the telecoms industry published in 2014.

As said by him, the Code consists of 12 principles and was developed to protect the interest of investors and stakeholders in the industry as well as promote time-valued principles of accountability, responsibility, transparency, integrity and ethical conduct.

“No doubt, the Code has expanded the frontiers of accountability in the operation of companies in the sector,” he said, emphasizing however, that challenges still exist and cited for instance that the Code is declaratory in nature and implementation was initially voluntary across the industry, leading to violations.

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Presidency torch-lights ‘emergency billionaires’

ITRealms:

Indications have emerged that the Presidency may be torch-lighting some ‘emergency billionaires’ as part of the anti-corruption crusade, mostly in public service, reports ITRealms.

The indications was given weekend by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), in Lagos, at a town hall meeting convened by the United Action for Change (UAC) in Lagos on Saturday.

Correspondent quoted President Osinbajo as saying that serving and former public office holders will henceforth be made to account for their wealth.

Also, Osinbajo told participants made up of various labour and professional organisations at the Ikeja Airport Hotel, said "the era of people becoming emergency billionaires is gone" and would no longer be tolerated by the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

“Anybody who can’t explain his wealth must be brought to account. Everyone who has served in public office must account for what they own. This is the change we want Nigerians to support”, he declared, adding that the dream of the Buhari government is to have a “country where integrity is our national culture.”

Osinbajo equally assured that the policies of the government are not tainted by any hidden agenda, stressing that at the end of their tenure, Buhari and himself will be ready to present their bank account details and assets owned to convince Nigerians they never abused their positions to get richer.

While pleading that Nigerians should be more patient with the administration, Osinbajo said the change mantra of the government was not and will never be a mere slogan but a necessity they are irrevocably committed to.

“Nigerians should never lose hope in the face of present difficulties. We have the best opportunity to change this nation now because we have a leader who is honest in all his dealings. There is a determination by this government to change the nation’s direction”, he reassured.

On the social security scheme promised some categories of Nigerians, Osinbajo said the government remains committed to a health insurance scheme that will provide coverage for all Nigerians, maintaining that the N5,000 monthly stipend promised poor Nigerians will soon take off, adding that a list of one million beneficiaries for a start is already being complied across the country.

He pleaded for the understanding of Nigerians on the biting fuel scarcity across the country, promising that a policy that will provide final solution will be unveiled in a matter of weeks. 

UAC Convener and National Legal Adviser of the ruling APC, Dr Muiz Banire, SAN in his opening remarks called for continuous support for the change Nigerians voted for at the 2015 general elections.

He explained that the body was “conceived as a vehicle to engage and sensitize Nigerians on the philosophical and moral significance of change working through its major platform: Change Nigeria.”

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Pix: Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, vice president

Fraud smells @APC FG over N795m budget for website update

ITRealms:

Members of the Federal House of Representatives on Friday berated the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led Federal Government over the N795 million purported budgeted for website update in the 2016 budget submitted by the presidency, reports ITRealms.

They also expressed dismay over the sum of N536m allocated  for cable linkage from drivers rest room and guest house to Aso Villa, describing these as fraud.

The federal lawmakers also urgently requsted President Mohammadu Buhari to apologise to Nigerians over the unnecessary controversy that trailed the 2016 Appropriation Bill and subsequent disappearance of same, from the National Assembly.

One of the key Federal legislators who stood out in contribution on this debate at the floor of the house and monitored by correspondent included Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma of Egor, Ikpoba, Okha Federal Constituency of Edo State, who said he did not see the first budget that was laid before the House on 22nd December, 2015 by the President, insisting he has the right to know the contents of the first and the second documents.

Agbonayinma insisted it is a “monumental fraud” for the President, who was talking about cutting cost of governance, to earmark the alarming sum of estimated N800m, just for website update in the Villa.

Equally, he expressed dismay over the allocation of N322m to link cable from the drivers’ rest room within the Villa and another N213m to link yet another cable from the Guest House to the General House.

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