Why is Air Peace being nice to Nigeria? Asks Fred Chukwuelobe - ITREALMS

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"I mean, why is Chief Barr Allen Onyema wasting millions of naira airlifting Nigerians stranded in war-torn Sudan? Why is he not charging the country whose leaders budgeted about $1.2m for hired buses to drive through harm’s zone to bring our people home? Is it corporate social responsibility? What is it for?

I ask these questions for several reasons. Firstly, after watching the Air Peace boss on Arise television, I can’t understand why he has to do this. While he was busy helping Nigerians come back home safely and faster than the buses our government picked and paid, the NLC and the TUC were at the airlines counters across the country harassing its operations over a disagreement the unions had with the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.

Ablegenius boss, Ebuka Agu, harps on sugarcraft art, insists being grand in what you do begets results - ITREALMS

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Sugarcraft prince based in Lagos, Ebuka Agu Godwin of Ablegenius Craft 'n' Events, says it requires skills and patience, learning, unlearning and relearning in sugar art. He spoke to ITREALMS' GBEMI OMOTOSO recently.

Excerpts:

What inspires you into crafting in cake design?
The love for craft has always been my childhood skill, as an artist while growing up, however, coming into the cake industry was just a plus.

MRA condemns raid on Peoples Gazette, accuses Police of being used - ITREALMS

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The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned the weekend raid on the head office of the Peoples Gazette newspaper by agents of the Nigeria Police and the arrest of the editor and four other staff of the newspaper. 

MRA also called on the Federal Government to rein in the law enforcement agency, accusing it of becoming a tool in the hands of rich or powerful individuals and entities for harassing journalists and media organizations.

Osinbajo has not changed despite being VP - Asiwaju Tinubu

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The National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has congratulated Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on his 61^st birthday, saying the high office of vice president has not changed Osinbajo, reports ITRealms.

He said the vice president’s life has been one of commitment to the principles of justice, honesty and equality of all people.

Tinubu in a personal letter to the Vice President, said:

“My dear Yemi, I congratulate you today on your 61st birthday.

This day presents an opportunity for us to thank God for the years he has given you and to pray that He provide you with many more birthdays.

“Your birthday also gives me the chance to tell you that the respect and affection I have for you as a brother and friend are deep and abiding.

“Your life has been one of commitment to the principles of justice, honesty, fairness and equality of all people under God. As a lawyer, you plied your knowledge of the law to advance the welfare of the common man and thus protect those ideals and beliefs integral to the exercise of our collective humanity.

“During your eight years as Attorney-general and Commissioner for Justice, you continued to stand for profound and worthy causes just as you did in private practice. You did not allow high office to change you or dilute your humanity.

“You vitally contributed to most of the landmark cases and laws passed in the state, which paved the way for the ongoing development of the state. Those same rare talents and traits you continue to live by today. 

“Holding the office of the Vice President has not changed you.  You remain as humble, as brilliant and as committed to performance as you have ever been.

“Your performance and service to the nation is a source of pride to those who know you. Along with President Buhari, you have helped to show that assumption of high office does not have to lower one's sense of morality or lessen their humanity.

“Thank you for being a champion for those who are without.  Thank you for your service to the country. Thank you for your loyalty to President Buhari.

“May God grant you more years, good health, strength and wisdom. I wish you a most happy birthday dear brother.”

Ayo Midele/GEE

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NITDA denies being under investigations by EFCC

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The management of the NationalInformation Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has denied any investigations by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), reports ITRealms.

Earlier, ITRealms gathered that there have been avalanche of news on the inconsistency of NITDA’s 2017 budget which led to the alleged investigations.

But reacting to the reports being circulated on some online media and national dailies, the Head, Corporate Affairs & External Relations, Mrs Hadiza Umar, told ITRealms, its false to the effect that the agency is attempting to circumvent due process requirements in the implementation of the 2017 approved budget.

“It is essential to note that the Agency is not under any investigation under current administration, either by EFCC or any other investigating agency. The statement credited to the Honourable Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, during an interview with Fresh FM Ibadan on Sunday, 5th November, 2017 is not true. The Agency under the leadership of Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami,  only received commendation from the EFCC.   

“In the reported petition, the faceless petitioners, Muhammad Yusuf and Rebecca Emeleogwu, purportedly representing Good Governance and Accountability Monitoring Group, alleged that the Management of the Agency has by-passed due process in the award of contracts in the 2017 budget.

“While the details of the violations were not substantiated, we write to categorically deny these allegations.  The Agency, since assumption of office of the current Director General/CEO, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has been making serious efforts at fighting corrupt practices within and outside the Agency.

“It is on record that in this effort to ensure transparency and accountability, the current Director-General is the only Chief Executive in history of the Agency that implemented almost 100 percent of the Auditor-General for the Federation’s audit recommendations regarding financial and other irregularities in the Agency.

“As a man of proven integrity who is in the forefront of supporting Mr President’s fight against corruption, the Director General sought the support of anti-corruption Agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC in fighting corruption in IT Procurements in Federal Government’s Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

“It may be of interest to note that officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation visited the Agency recently and gave an excellent commendation to the Director General and the Management Team for their efforts at following due process as well as excellent documentation of all financial transactions.

“It is on record that the 2017 projects are yet to be advertised and so far no contract has been awarded in the Agency because of the Director-General’s efforts at ensuring that due process is followed in the award of contracts.

“In view of the above, we write to request that the unfounded allegations made by the Group should be totally disregarded as the above facts show that what was circulated is a frantic effort of corruption fighting back. It should be noted that the Agency is encouraged by it and will continue its giant strides of fighting corruption. If the petitioners could come forward, the management is willing to challenge them to court for character assassination,’ she submitted.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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