The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abdullahi

  • Abdullahi: We showed resilience

    Abdullahi: We showed resilience

    Mustapha Abdullahi believes Dream Team VI showed great resilience to qualify for the 11th All Africa Games at the expense of their Zambian counterparts after a 2-1 second leg win at the National Heroes Stadium on Sunday.

    With Friday Samu cancelling Taiwo Awoniyi’s first half opener 12 minutes from time, Abdullahi who was a second half substitute felt it was important they kept their composure in the latter stages before breaking the hearts of the Zambians with a late goal from Awoniyi. And he reckons the result, which handed the ticket to Nigeria after a 2-1 aggregate win, proved to be a vital one.

    “We trained hard before travelling to Lusaka. It was a well deserved feat by the entire team. With 10 minutes to go the main thing was not to lose the game and we achieved that. We worked our socks off and we came away with a victory which was absolutely vital as we sealed our passage to the main competition in Congo. We stuck together and battled hard for the victory,” Abdullahi told SL10.

    Abdullahi, who was called up to the team for the first time, praised coach Samson Siasia and brace hero Taiwo Awoniyi.

    “When the coach named the team I was over the moon and when he gave me some minutes it was really amazing. My gratitude goes to him for the chance to prove myself.”

    “Taiwo is a great prospect for the future. He has got everything. He is quick, strong, he goes forward with ease and he has got a great future ahead of him,” Abdullahi said.

  • Jonathan has impoverished Nigerians, say Ahmed, Saraki, Abdullahi

    Jonathan has impoverished Nigerians, say Ahmed, Saraki, Abdullahi

    kWARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Senator Bukola Saraki and ex-sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, pronounced a damning verdict on President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration yesterday.

    They accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government of impoverishing Nigerians.

    They spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at the presentation of the state All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for next month’s elections.

    Abdullahi said Nigerians were more economically impoverished than six or seven years ago, adding that yet the administration claimed that “our economy is improving.”

    The former minister said: “When Senator Bukola Saraki was the governor of the state, many of our supporters and members could afford to build houses and buy cars. But these days, the text messages we receive border on money to keep body and soul together.

    “They now want us to continue in that our hunger status for another four years. To add insult on injury, they say the country’s gross domestic product is increasing and that the Nigeria’s economy is one of the best in Africa.

    “The money that the PDP people are filtering away is what they term GDP. That is none of our business. I urge us all to cast our votes for General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) in the next month presidential elections and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in the governorship elections.

    “March 3rd 2014, when President Goodluck Jonathan came to Ilorin – then I was the minister for sports, they said I should mount the podium at this same metropolitan square and haul abuses at Senator Bukola Saraki. But being a true son of Ilorin, I cannot not bite a finger that has fed me. It was the same Saraki that brought me from Lagos and made me a special assistant, and from special assistant to special adviser.

    “As if that was not enough, the then governor of Kwara State appointed me as a commissioner and subsequently nominated me for ministerial job.

    “This our leader has foresight; he told us before our defection from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC that PDP was like a sinking ship. It was then that some people felt they would sit by the driver of sinking ship. The senator also told us then that PDP is a God forsaken party.”

    Ahmed said that the financial emasculation of the state has hampered infrastructural development.

    He said: “There is dwindling allocation from Abuja, notwithstanding the state government has not defaulted in paying workers’ salaries as at and when due. We have not relented in creating jobs for our teeming youths.

    “Today, we are assuring you that we shall not abandon our ongoing projects. We are not liars as we don’t say what we cannot do. Through President Jonathan’s campaigns, we can decipher that the PDP is peopled by a bunch of liars. They embark on shadow-chasing, rather focus attention on issues.

    “I urge us all to close rank and sweep PDP-led government away at all levels. The other day, I told you that PDP’s umbrella was already leaking. That is apparent to all of us now.”

    Saraki, who is the APC leader in the state, asked: “If the President Jonathan could not control Nigerian economy when one barrel of crude oil was over $100 per barrel, how can he manage the economy when a barrel is about $50?

    “PDP says that we are abusing Mr. President. We are not abusing Mr. President. We have all the respect for the presidency; we are talking of facts and figures.

    “PDP and Mr. President promised Nigerians security; is their security today? You promised power; is there light today? You promised to fight corruption; is there any change today? You promised to provide job for all our youths; any job today? These are not present today.  We are not being personal, we are talking about issues.

    “We are not talking about having leaders based on religion – Christian, or Muslim. We are not talking whether you are from North or South. We are not talking whether you are Hausa, Yoruba or Ijaw. We are talking about who will make Nigeria better.”

    He urged the people to vote for Gen Muhammadu Buhari, Ahmed, the senators from APC, members of the House of Representatives and members of the state Assembly from APC.

  • Bulkachuwa, Abdullahi urge workers on dedication to duty

    Bulkachuwa, Abdullahi urge workers on dedication to duty

    The President of the Court of Appeal, (PCA), Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa and one of her predecessors, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, have urged judicial workers to be more dedicated to duty, saying their dedication and commitment were necessary for the effective operations of the court.

    They spoke in Abuja at the inaugural award presentation ceremony for 25 ex-workers of the court, who retired between 2012 and 2014. They were presented with certificates of meritorious service and gifts.

    Justice Bulkachuwa, who noted that it was the first time such event would hold since the court’s establishment in 1976, assured that her administration will reward handwork.

    Justice Abdullahi praised the PCA for the initiative, which he said was capable of ensuring unity and cooperation among staff, as well as restoring the dignity of the court.

    The Executive Secretary, Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), Hajiya Bilkysu Abdulmalik Basheer, commended the court’s management for the initiative to honour retired workers.

    She said the decision to honour those who had committed their time and energy to the service of the court, was sufficient to motivate those in service to give their best.

    The court’s Chief Registrar, Aliyu Ibrahim, who was represented by his Deputy, Hafizu Isah, assured the retirees that plans are on to ensure that their entitlements are processed promptly.

    Replying on behalf of the retirees, former Head of Audit Department, Nwanchukwu Ndujiuba, thanked the court’s management for honouring them.

  • Ex-minister Abdullahi: APC holds key to Nigeria’s political future

    Ex-minister Abdullahi: APC holds key to Nigeria’s political future

    A former Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has the solution to Nigeria’s political development and stability.

    The former minister urged Nigerians to be careful about the party they will vote for in next year’s general elections.

    Abdullahi, who publicly declared his membership of the APC yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said it is the only party that holds the key to Nigeria’s political future.

    The former minister told reporters that he had become a card-carrying member of the APC and was involved in partisan politics.

    He urged Nigerian professionals, who desire a positive change in the affairs of the nation, to join the party.

    Abdullahi noted that most decisions that affect the destiny of the people are taken at the political level.

    The former minister said he discovered when he was in office as a commissioner in Kwara State and a minister at the federal level that professionals, especially journalists with commitment, can make changes happen when they are called upon to serve.

    On the state of the nation, the ace journalist said: “The question you should ask yourself is whether or not you are better off today than you were six years ago; whether or not the education your children receive today is better than what they six years ago and whether or not the health services available to you today are better than what was obtainable six years ago.

    “So, if you conclude that they are better, then there is no need for you to change. But if, like many of us, you face the reality that they are not, then you will understand why we say that we need a change.

    “I have served at the state and national levels and I am convinced now that I should be more involved in contributing to solving problems, not just writing about them (problems). That is why I am now a full member of the APC.

    “Yes, I used to see myself as a technocrat. It was strategic because I needed to have an environment to perform the job I was given without necessarily becoming political or promoting myself. That’s because whether as a commissioner or minister, I was only there by the recommendation of my bosses. I needed to do the work assigned to me without failing.

    “However, I also discovered that much as that gave me the opportunity to perform, the truth is that it became a limitation in some ways. This is because when the decisions are to be made, which would affect the people, technocrats are not allowed to be in such gatherings. They are only called upon to implement the decisions and, even in doing that, they have to be careful because it may affect the fortunes of the politician.”

  • Abdullahi on trials at Legia

    Flying Eagles striker Sulaiman Abdullahi is to undergo two weeks of trials at Polish champions Legia Warzawa, his representatives have informed AfricanFootball.com

    “He is expected in Poland in the first week of August and should meet up with this appointment as we hope to complete his travel papers within the next two weeks,” one of his representatives disclosed.

    ‘Daddy’ Abdullahi has shone through in his debut season in the Nigeria Premier League, scoring six goals for El Kanemi.

    He is from the Kaduna-based Mutunci Academy, same as Flying Eagles winger Musa Yahaya, who has signed a pre-contract with English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

  • Glo league club celebrates Minister’s sack

    Glo league club celebrates Minister’s sack

    AN unnamed official of one of the Globacom Premier League clubs has welcomed the sacking of the Sports Minister, Malam Bolaji Abdulahi.

    Abdulahi was a victim of Wednesday’s minor cabinet reshuffling after President Goodluck Jonathan named Tamuno Danagogo from Rivers State, as the new Minister of Sports.

    According to the official while speaking in a chat with SportingLife stated that: “Let me speak for my club, we were in a celebration mood when the news broke about the sacking of the Minister of Sports.

    “He may have done well for sports, but he made a mess of the country’s domestic league when he didn’t take a firm stand as regards the domestic league and was biased when he vetoed the elongation of the Nnduka Irabor’s League Management Committee (LMC) tenure regardless of the call by clubs that elections must be conducted into the board.

    “This led to a series of season kick-off cancelations and at the end our clubs playing in the CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup are suffering from it.

    “Except for Warri Wolves and Bayelsa United, Kano Pillars you know have been knocked out, and we don’t know the fate of Enyimba either. It’s all because no league for the past five months.

    “Now that he (Abdulahi) is gone, the fresh peace the 20 clubs want in the Globacom Premier League has now come.

    “His sacking has now given us the club owners the avenue to now sack the LMC whom we consider as illegal.”

    Recall, the 2013/14 season is expected to commence Friday.

  • We want to keep this Eaglets -Minister

    We want to keep this Eaglets -Minister

     •Hosts team today

    Sports Minister Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has vowed to ensure that the U- 17 World Champions, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria are kept together as a team and not go the way of the 2007 class that later scattered without making the squad of the Super Eagles.

    “When we first decided to go on the project of parading strictly young players that are really within the age bracket a lot of people thought it won’t work out but I thank Almighty God that the project has yielded a great dividend for us by the feat of the Golden Eaglets emerging World Champions in Friday’s U- 17 World Cup final in Abu Dhabi.

    “The result has vindicated us.This is a great project we have started.So by winning this world cup today (Friday) it means that we are sure footed in the development of football at the grass roots in the country.

    “The Eaglets world cup victory shows clearly that the future of the game is very bright. So I want to congratulate his Excellency Mr.President(Goodluck Jonathan).This February we won the Africa Nations Cup and now we have won the FIFA U- 17 World Cup we can’t ask for better performance and records.

    “We will have a reception for the team on Sunday (today) and after the reception we are going to have a post tournament review and assessment where we can talk at length how we can keep these talents together.

    Even if we can not keep all of them together we want to device a way where we can monitor their progress in other to sustain this tempo of success” the Minister stated.

  • Why Nigerians should not trust Jonathan, by Ango Abdullahi

    Why Nigerians should not trust Jonathan, by Ango Abdullahi

    Former Presidential Adviser on Food Security, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, says there are abundant reasons why Nigerians should not entrust President Goodluck Jonathan with the leadership of the country beyond May, 2015.

    The reasons, according to the Secretary of the Northern Elders Forum, revolve around what he called the president’s betrayal of the process that brought him into office.

    Speaking on Liberty Radio, Kaduna, yesterday, Prof Abdullahi said President Jonathan got the support of the north to contest for one term in 2011 but is now bent on usurping the lot of the north again in 2015.

    He said, though he would want power to return to the north in 2015, he would not mind supporting a South South candidate like Prof. Tam David-West.

    Prof. Abdullahi blamed former President Olusegun Obasanjo for upsetting the PDP zonal arrangement and said President Jonathan’s position on zoning is a fallout of the Obasanjo legacy.

    He said “when Obasanjo wanted an extension of tenure for a second term under the zoning arrangement, he had to come to an extended caucus of the PDP. I remember how people opposed the idea. The late Abubakar Rimi was one of them and he was supported by about three others that Obasanjo should not be given an extension and that the Presidency should come to the north for four years before going back to the South.

    “Eventually, about 37 people out of the about 41 present voted for the extension for Obasanjo to have a second term. Now coming to why we should not trust people who renege on promises. Obasanjo was the first to deny that there was a zoning that brought him to power. He did that and kept doing it and it is most likely it was from him that they learnt what they are doing because he was instrumental to Jonathan becoming Vice President.

    “So, Jonathan must be Obasanjo’s student on matters of zoning because he himself kept saying, when we were arguing that Jonathan rightly became the President of the country when Yar’Adua died, ‘This is what the constitution allows’ and in fact insisted on it and nobody begrudged that.”

    According to Abdullahi, “The President’s foot soldiers have approached me. I met one of the foot soldiers and I told him that for me, there wouldn’t have been any reason to support any candidate from outside the north. The north is not selfish and has never exhibited any selfishness.” He faulted the president’s transformation agenda saying, “I don’t know what indices they are using and can’t see what direction this transformation is going. The indicators are very clear that virtually everything is collapsing.”

     

  • Abdullahi seeks participation in Kano fair

    The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority Mallam Habib Abdullahi has urged Northern states to support the Kano Chamber of Commerce by participating in its forthcoming trade fair.

    He said the event would be an avenue for them to showcase their potentials and attract investors to their states.

    Abdullahi, who spoke in Lagos when he received the executives of the chamber in his office, urged the organisers to impress it on participants to change their apathy towards the event by displaying their potentials.

    He said the Authority would not only ensure full participation in the 34th edition of the fair, but also support it to ensure its success. He urged the organisers to maintain standards, to achieve results.

    President of the chamber, Alhaji Farouk Rabiu, praised NPA for taking part in previous fairs, adding that the chamber has introduced new business opportunities through training, seminars and workshops on commerce and investments in the new editions.

     

  • Okagbare has made us proud—Abdullahi, Ogba

    Okagbare has made us proud—Abdullahi, Ogba

    The Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC) Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi who is in Moscow, Russia, with Team Nigeria Track and Field team in the ongoing Moscow 2013 IAAF World Championships has described Blessing Okagbare Nigeria heroine who is doing the nation proud with her God-given talent and therefore should be celebrated.

    Okagbare on Sunday ended Nigeria’s 14-year medal drought at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics which dates back to Seville’99 World Championship where Gloria Alozie and Francis Obikwelu won a Silver medal and bronze medal respectively.

    Speaking to reporters in Moscow Mallam Abdullahi said,” we are very proud of her performance and what she has achieved by putting us on the world stage. It is not an easy feat to be one of the best three in the world in any event, more so in a highly technical event like the long jump, I congratulate her and all Nigerians who stood by her with the prayers and moral support’’.

    Okagbare was tipped by bookmakers all over the world to win a medal in the 100m based on her splendid performances in the IAAF Diamond League which peaked with a record breaking 10.79 sec at the London leg of the league. But she could only place sixth in the final on Monday returning a time of 11.04 sec.

    Mallam Abdullahi commended Okagbare for a brilliant effort in 100m,” we are proud of her, she did her best. Personally, I will rather focus more on where she has done very well, that is the silver medal she won in the long jump than the 100m. More than any of us she wanted the 100m medal, all she needs now is support and encouragement to succeed in other events, then future games and championships, I believe we should focus more on her success and celebrate a star who has done us proud at the highest level’’.

    Also, the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Evangelist Solomon Ogba commended Okagbare for her success in the long jump and urged Nigerians to celebrate her, ‘’She has done well. We as a federation, we are happy that we have an athlete that made Nigerians proud. We thank the Federal Government, the NSC and every Nigerian for their support. I was delighted with the news from home after she won the silver medal in the long jump; the whole country celebrated her feat. I also thanked the Honourable Minister Mallam Abdullahi, he is great lover of track and field, either at the grassroot level or the world stage like this. It is on record that he is the first Minister of Sports to attend our Golden League, All Nigeria and even the World Championships, we are grateful to him’’ said Evang. Ogba.