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Tag: Abubakar

  • Abubakar warns commissioners against corruption

    Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar has warned new commissioners against corruption.

    He said anyone caught stealing state funds would not be spared.

    Among those sworn-in is the Attorney-General and Commission Mr. Haruna  Mohammed.

    The governor urged them to exhibit exemplary leadership and diligence in running state’s affairs.

    Abubakar said the appointees got the job on merit, adding they must be fair to all irrespective of tribe, religion or political leanings.

    He warned them against indolence and the temptation to embezzle public funds, saying that anyone caught would face the full wrath of the law.

    He also advised them to be prudent in the management of limited resources.

    The other commissioners include Rifkatu Samson (Environment), Rukaiya  Kewa (Women Affairs and Child Development),  Umar Sade (Information),  Ibrahim Sale (Social Welfare and Sports), Yakubu Kirfi (Agriculture) and Mohammed Abubakar (Rural and Community Development).

    Others are Nasiru Giade (Co-operatives), Muhammadu Bashir (Power, Science and Technology), Umar Mohammed (Housing, Land and Survey), Umar Gazali (Commerce and Industry), Garba Akuyum (Finance) and Ado Aska (Religious Affairs).

    The rest are Nasirudeen Mohammed (Local Government),  Zuwaira Ibrahim (Health), Ibrahim Suleiman (Water Resources), Haruna Danwanka (Education) and Musa Baima (Solid Minerals).

    Deputy Governor, Nuhu Gidado (Works and Transport Ministry).

    Abubakar  also inaugurated a committee chaired by retired Justice Dahiru Saleh review the issue of additional District, Village and Hamlet Areas in view of their dissolution by the State House of Assembly in 2015.

    Its terms of reference include to recommend the number of districts to be created or reinstated, to demarcate and delineate boundaries of both the old and the new district and village areas, to identify constituent village areas, among others.

  • Abubakar advocates legal backing for traditional rulers

    BAUCHI  State Governor Mohammed Abubakar has called for a better recogntion of the role of tradition rulers in the society through constitutional recognition.

    He reiterated his administration’s support for traditional institutions.

    He spoke when he received the new Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Umar Muhammad Kabir Umar.

    He said all support would be given to the Emir and Emirate, stressing that traditional institutions were integral to state building.

    Abubakar said the new Emir of Katagum was Allah’s choice, explaining that Allah only used him in selecting and appointing the new Emir to succeed his late father.

    The Governor recalled that when he kick-started his campaign in Azare town of Katagum Local Government Area, he vowed to follow the footsteps of the former Governor of Bauchi State, the Alhaji Tatari Ali, known to be non-discriminatory.

    Abubakar expressed his gratitude to the Emir and the people of Katagum Emirate for their unwavering support, and expressed satisfaction in the kind of people-oriented programs the Emir had already embarked upon.

    The Emir thanked Allah for making it possible for him to succeed his father and thanked Abubakar for installing him as the 12th Emir of Katagum.

    The Emir pledged his allegiance to Abubakar and his administration.

    He praised the Governor for the projects taking place in Katagum, recalling that one of the first contracts awarded by the Governor was that of the now famous Misau – Udubo – Gamawa road.

    Meanwhile, Governor Abubakar has approved the appointment of Dr. Auwal Ibrahim Amba as the Provost A.D Rufa’i College for Legal and Islamic Studies Misau in Bauchi State.

    This was contained in a statement signed by the College Registrar, Hamma Bashar.

    Other officers appointed included; Mallam Garba Musa (Registrar) and Mallam Muhammad Dahiru Ibrahim (Bursar).

    The tenure of the Librarian, Mallam Lamido bdullahi was renewed.

  • Honour for Tambuwal, Abubakar, Lalong

    Honour for Tambuwal, Abubakar, Lalong

    The Jos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has honoured three Northern governors who left legal practice for politics.

    The Branch said the governors have been worthy representatives of the Bar and have contributed to the growth and development of the legal profession and democracy.

    Those honoured are: Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi) and Simon Lalong (Plateau).

    They were conferred with awards during the branch’s yearly law week programme in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

    Tambuwal, who chaired the events’ opening, was honoured for deepening democracy in the country by developing the legislative arm of government.

    He was a former House of Representatives Speaker before being elected governor.

    Abubakar was honoured for deepening democracy in Nigeria by developing the electoral process.

    He was a National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Lalong was honoured for being a worthy ambassador of the Bar by rendering bold and selfless service to Plateau State, Nigeria and humanity.

    He was the longest serving Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

     

    Their profiles

     

    Tambuwal

    Tambuwal was born on January 10, 1966 in Tambuwal, Sokoto State. He had his early education at the Tambuwal Primary School from 1972 -1979 and Government Teachers College Dogon-Daji where he obtained his Teachers Grade 11 Certificate in 1984.

    Determined to become a lawyer, Aminu proceeded to study Law at the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, graduating in 1991 with an LL.B (Hons).

    In 1992, after completing his one year mandatory studies at the Nigeria Law School Lagos, he was called to the Nigerian Bar.

    He was elected the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Bar Association, Sokoto in 1997.

    Subsequently, he was to serve variously as the association’s Assistant National Financial Secretary, First National Secretary, and Secretary of the Human Rights Committee, between the 1998 and 2002.

    After working as the Personal Assistant to the then Senate Leader, Senator Abdullahi Wali, Tambuwal ran for the House of Representatives seat for Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal constituency of Sokoto State in 2003 on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and won.

    In 2004, he became the Minority Leader of the House. Tambuwal again contested the National Assembly elections in 2007 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).  He won the seat to represent his constituency from 2007-2011.

    When he left the opposition, he was promptly elected the Deputy Chief Whip of the House.  In 2011, Tambuwal again stood for and won election to the House of Representatives.

    He subsequently became the Speaker of the seventh House of Representatives against all odds in 2011.

    He was  leader of the Nigerian Delegation to African, Caribbean, Pacific and European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly; Leader of the Federal Government team to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the controversial denial of visas to Nigerian female pilgrims, among others.

    He was named Leadership Newspaper’s Politician of the Year 2011; Sun Newspaper’s Man of the Year 2012; and Best Performing Governor in Education in Nigeria by BusinessDAY and The Authority Newspapers (2017).

    He was given an honorary Doctorate in Law from his alumnus, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, December 2012. He also has an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, 2013, among others. On September 27, 2014, he was turbaned the Mutawalle of Sokoto Caliphate by Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.

    On October 28, 2014, after the day’s plenary in the House of Representatives, Tambuwal formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). On April 11, 2015, he was elected Governor of Sokoto State under APC platform.

     

    Abubakar

     

    Abubakar, referred to as the architect of modern Bauchi State, is the fifth democratically elected governor of Bauchi State who led the All Progressives Congress (APC) foot soldiers that ousted the once powerful Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    An accomplished legal practitioner, he rendered free legal services to the poor and needy, first in Bauchi state and later in other major Nigerian cities.

    Born on December 11, 1956 in Gombe, he started his educational career at the Jos Native Authority Primary School in Plateau State from 1963 to 1968 from where he proceeded to Tudun Wada Primary School, Kano in 1969.

    He then gained admission into the Government College Kano (now famous Rumfa College) for his Secondary School Certificate education from 1970 to 1974.

    Abubakar proceeded to the highly competed School of Basic Studies (SBS) of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for the one year pre-degree programme and thereafter proceeded to the Faculty of Law in the same premier northern University where he studied for and obtained his Bachellor of Laws  (LLB. Hons) degree in 1978.

    By 1979, he had completed his Law School training in Lagos and proceeded to Rivers State for the mandatory National Youth Service (NYSC), working as a lecturer at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology.

    On completion of his national youth service, Abubakar returned to Bauchi State and joined the services of the State Government as a Pupil State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice and rose through the ranks to the position of a Director. Before then, he headed the Legal Drafting department in the Bauchi State House of Assembly in 1983.

    After the military coup in 1983, Abubakar was deployed to the Ministry of Justice as Principal State Counsel and by 1984 seconded to the Yankari Games Reserve and Tourism Company Limited as its Secretary/Legal Adviser.

    Two years later, he was  redeployed to the Ministry of Justice where he acted as Director, Civil Litigations for two years before being promoted to the rank of Director, Public Prosecution (DPP).

    He was appointed Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice between 1990 and 1991 by the then Military administration. He was re-appointed for the second time until 1993.

    When the military intervened again in 1993, he decided to disengage from Public Service and went into private legal practice as Managing Partner of Fortuna Chambers.

    He was the Chairman, NBA, Bauchi Branch, from 1996 to 1998. He was elected Deputy National Secretary of the PDP in 1997 and then appointed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), serving in Kogi, Delta, Plateau and Rivers States.

    In 2003, he was elevated to the position of National Electoral Commissioner in-charge of Legal Services. He supervised Borno, Yobe and Jigawa states.

    He finally retired from public service and returned to his private legal practice as the Managing Partner of M. A. Abubakar & Co (Fortuna Chambers) which has offices in Bauchi, Abuja and Port Harcourt respectively. He is also a Member of the National Judicial Council since 2013.

    In March 2016, Abubakar was elected Governing Council member of the African Bar Association (AFBA).

     

    Lalong

     

    Governor Lalong, a native of Ajikamai in Shendam Local Government Area, was born on May 5, 1963.

    He had his Primary Education at R.C.M Primary School Shendam and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1977.

    After his primary school, he gained admission into Government Secondary School Shendam where he had his O’ Level Certificate in 1982. He further went to S. P. S. Keffi, where he obtained his A’ Level in 1986.

    Lalong later gained admission to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he studied Law and graduated with a Bachelor of Law (LLB. Hons) degree in 1990.

    He obtained his Masters Degree in Law (LLM) from the University of Jos in 1996.

    Lalong did his NYSC in the Legal Unit of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

    He started his legal practice in 1992 with the T-Obot & Co. Legal Practitioners, Jos.

    He also worked with Victor Fomwul & Co. Jos from 1997 – 1999 as a Managing Partner.

    He later established his own chambers and was the Principal Partner of Simon B. Lalong & Co. Legal Practitioners.

    When the ban on partisan politics was lifted and by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar in 1999, Lalong contested to represent the Shendam Constituency in the state House Assembly. He won and was subsequently made the Speaker of the State House of Assembly in October 2000.

    Lalong’s rare leadership qualities earned him the record of the longest serving Speaker in the history of Plateau State legislature which span across seven unbroken years between 2000 and 2006.

    He twice elected as chairman, Nigerian Conference of Speakers, a forum of all the 36 Speakers.

    He was the National Chairman, forum of All former Speakers of Nigeria and also Chairman of former State Legislators, Plateau State Chapter.

    He contested for the Governorship of Plateau State on April 11, 2015 elections under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and emerged victorious.

     

  • Abubakar to pilgrims: obey host country’s laws

    Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar has urged pilgrims to obey their host countries’laws.

    He gave the charge while addressing Christian pilgrims at the Government House in Bauchi.

    They include those on pilgrimage to the holy lands of Rome, Greece and Israel.

    The governor warned them against abscondment.

    “It will be wrong if you choose to abscond and seek to remain in the holy lands, or indeed relocate elsewhere in search of greener pastures,” he said.

    The governor  warned that such an act would not be condoled.

    “We shall not allow such irresponsibility,” he said.

    Abubakar urged them to be ambassadors of the state and shun any act that can tarnish its image.

    “Our expectation is that you will serve as respected citizens of Nigeria that you represent and obey the laws of your host country.  Your journey to the holy land is sacred.

    “We therefore expect you to pray fervently for the restoration of all that is good, development, health of leaders in the state and Nigeria.

    “I want to urge you to be of humble character and reverence in your conduct on this pilgrimage,  be observant and note the elements that make the holy land a very compelling attraction for pilgrims all over the world.”

    The Bauchi State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board Chairman, Daniel Shawulu, praised the governor for the opportunity given them to embark on pilgrimage to Rome, training of staff and continued support to the board.

    He also appealed to the governor to provide the board with an office accommodation in the capital.

    Meanwhile, Abubakar has mourned  the Emir of Katagum Alhaji Kabir Umar.

    A statement by his Adviser, Media and Strategy, Ali M. Ali, reads: “Certainly, his death has created a vacuum that will not easily be filled given his exemplary lifestyle and conduct.

    “He lived according to the sunnah of the holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). His death came at a time when his wise counsel and contributions to the development of the state in particular and the nation in general were most needed.

    “His death is not only a loss to the katagum emirate, but the entire nation.  He will be remembered for some many reasons.”

     

     

     

  • NGO donates health equipment to 216 facilities in Bauchi State

    NGO donates health equipment to 216 facilities in Bauchi State

    Plan International, an International Non Governmental organisation ( NGO ), has donated maternal, neonatal and child health equipment and consumables worth N124 million to 261 health facilities across Bauchi State.

    The Country Director of the NGO, Dr Hussaini Audu, stated this on Wednesday at a news conference in Bauchi after handing over the equipment to the Bauchi State Government representative in Dass Local Government Area.

    He said the gesture was aimed at improving maternal and child health, adding that the NGO would continue to partner with government at various levels in that direction.

    He added that “Plan International is working on a four-and-half year project in 216 health facilities in Bauchi State.

    “These equipment are worth N124 million, to be distributed to 216 healthcare facilities.

    “The equipment include delivery kits, family planning kits, examination lights, infants and adults weighing scale, hand gloves and mattresses.”

    Earlier, the Canadian High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Christopher Thornley, had expressed satisfaction over operations of healthcare facilities in the state.

    He said the Canadian Government had been working in the state in the past 15 years due to cordial relationship and enabling working environment provided by the state government.

    He commended the state government “for improving healthcare for women and children.”

    The wife of the Bauchi State Governor, Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar, who received
    the equipment on behalf of the state government, thanked the organisation for the gesture.

    She noted that the present administration in the state has five points agenda on health which has direct bearing to women and children.

    Abubakar, who also handed over the equipment to Dr Mohammed Dayyabu, the Director, Research, Planning and Statistics, Bauchi State Ministry of Health,called for judicious use.

    Plan International has been working in Bauchi State to assist health facilities with the needed equipment to work with, especially in women and children health centres.

    NAN

  • Abubakar hails Buhari on recession exit

    Abubakar hails Buhari on recession exit

    Bauchi State Governor Mo-hammed Abubakar has praised President Muham-madu Buhari for adopting “excellent economic measures” that got Nigeria out of recession.

    Speaking with newsmen after a special committee of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) visited the President, he said Buhari deserved commendation.

    A statement by his Special Assistant on Communications, Mr.   Shamsu-deen Abubakar, said the committee was led by NGF’s Chairman and Zamfara State Governor, Alh. Abdulaziz Yari.

    The eight governors thanked Mr. President for taking Nigeria out of its first recession in 25 years.

    Abubakar was quoted as saying: “Some of the key factors that helped in moving the country out of recession were the excellent economic palliative measures introduced by the President.”

    The  governors also thanked the President for providing bailout funds which helped the states to offset backlog of salaries inherited from past administrations.

    The Federal Government has given N1.75 trillion to states as extra-statutory allocation. Governor Yari said the states spent the money judiciously.

    The governors praised the President’s efforts in refunding the Paris Club funds to states – the first time any government would do so.

    The governors appealed to the President to come out with a time-table for the repayment of the remaining 50 per cent after reconciliation have been done between the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office (DMO) so that states can include the monies in their 2018 budget.

    Abubakar, who is Chairman, Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the Anambra State  governorship election, attended  the flag-off of the party’s campaign.

    Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo, APC National Chairman Mr. John Odigie Oyegun and other party leaders were also at the event which saw thousands showing their support for the party and its flagbearer Mr. Tony Nwoye.

    Twelve governors, five deputy governors and 15 serving senators and ministers were also in attendance ahead of the November 18 election.

    Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BSHCDA) has received a donation of 45 scanning machines for distribution to primary health centres (PHCs).

    The machines were donated to the BSPHCDA by a non-governmental Organisation (NGO) named GE Healthcare, supported by USAID, for distribution to the healthcare centres across the state to reduce pregnancy-related complications.

    They were presented to BSPHCDA by the state coordinator, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) in Bauchi State, Bashir Mai Dabino.

    Receiving the equipment, the Executive Secretary of the BSPHCDA, Adamu Gamawa praised the donors for the gesture.

  • Restructuring needs to be defined, says Abubakar

    Restructuring needs to be defined, says Abubakar

    •Governor gets honorary doctorate 

    There is need for Nigerians to agree on restructuring, Bauch State Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar has said.

    According to him, the subject was yet to be properly defined.

    On the clamour for restructuring, Abubakar said after 57 years of independence, there is need to look back to see where the nation has erred to make changes.

    He regretted that those making calls for restructuring have not defined what they really mean.

    Abubakar said if the revenue sharing formular is reviewed, agitation for restructuring may end

    “I want to assure Nigerians that those agitations for restructuring, whatever they mean, will easily disappear if the revenue allocation formula is reviewed in the Constitution to increase the percentage given to states,” he said.

    Abubakar said Nigeria must pay more attention to education if it is attain its development potential.

      According to him, education is the key that opens other doors of opportunities.

    Abubakar, who is chairman of the Arewa Lawyers Forum (ALF),  said since he took office in 2015, his administration has consistently been dedicating 20 per cent of the state’s budget to revitalisation of education.

    He spoke when he was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Political Science (Honoris Causa) by the ESTAM University, Cotonou, Benin Republic.

    He was also named Best West African Administrator and Governor by the university.

    Abubakar urged Nigerians studying abroad to be good ambassadors.

    He urged them to concentrate on their studies and acquire knowledge that will help in building the nation.

    On completion of their studies, they should return to contribute their quota nation-building, the governor advised.

    He also charged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria.

    The governor said education is accorded priority attention because of his administration’s conviction that with attention on education, health, politics and all other critical sectors will also improve.

    A statement by Abubakar’s Press Secretary, Mr. Abubakar Al-Sadique, quoted the governor as saying: “At the inception of my administration in 2015, Bauchi State had recorded only 3.5 per cent pass in NECO and WAEC, but with the attention given, by 2016 it rose to 17 per cent and 27 per cent in 2017.”

    Abubakar revealed that with youth constituting about 42 per cent of the state’s eight million population, his administration had no option that to focus attention on technical and vocational education that produced employers of labour as against job seekers.

    “Paid jobs are not available anymore, so we need to fashion ways of changing the narrative by making our youth self-employed.

    “This is the reason why my administration is giving attention to the Bauchi State-owned Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic,” the governor said.

  • Abubakar: More garlands for a reformer

    On Tuesday August 1, eminent Nigerians across political parties under the banner of Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) gathered at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre in Abuja to honour Governor Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State .The occasion was chaired by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    The award was in recognition of   the   governor’s political tolerance and conduct of local government polls. It was the second within a breathe-taking period of two weeks. In mid July, it was another garland for Abubakar at the 11th Abuja International Housing Show. The award was in recognition of   the governor’s grim battle for urban renewal. Under his watch, the metropolis and beyond had become a huge construction yard with roads   and drainages being constructed   frenetically.

    Governor Abubakar is no stranger to being recognized for distinction. A brilliant lawyer and consummate administrator, his reformist agenda is hugely successfully but also hugely misunderstood by those who chose to view these reforms through the narrow prism of politics of resource allocation.

    Before these two awards that have secured him a conspicuous place in the annals of the state, he had similarly earned a distinction award early in 2016, from the Political Observers Organizations, this time for being “the best performing chief executive prudent in the management of resources”. The association confirmed what has, for long, been in the market square, that “the governor has been prudent in the management of the meagre resources of the state, producing results that bring promise of prosperity to the citizens of Bauchi State’’.

    The association isolated for commendation the “payment of four months outstanding salaries before the federal government bailout funds” by the governor as particularly exemplary. “His penchant for transparency, accountability, people-oriented programmes in fulfilment of his campaign promises” was some of the key considerations for the coveted award as stated by the national chairman of the organization, Umar Sharif.

    “The ICPC had monitored the expending of the funds and has scored Bauchi as one of the best performers. There was also the treatment of 10, 000 eye patients and provision of glasses with 500 surgeries performed on the needy indigenes of the state,” it concluded.

    Penultimate week’s award by IPAC, the umbrella body of all political parties registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) didn’t come as a surprise to many familiar with Abubakar pedigree. He is an accomplished lawyer for starters. An excellent   manager of men and materials, he demonstrated early in his career that he was destined for the top. Soon after his youth service inn1980, he joined the Bauchi State Civil Service as a Pupil State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice. He rose through the ranks to the position of Senior Parliamentary Counsel and Head of Legal Drafting Department of Bauchi State House of Assembly in 1983.

    By 1990, he had become Attorney –General and Commissioner of Justice. He was elected chairman Bauchi branch of Nigeria Bar Association in 1996. Between 1999 and 2003, he served as Resident Electoral Commissioner in several states. In 2003, he was promoted to National Electoral Commissioner in charge of Legal Services and supervisor of Borno, Jigawa, and Yobe states. He retired from INEC in 2008 and went back to legal practice.

    In matters of jurisprudence, MA Abubakar is rigid. He doesn’t compromise. This principle   is both a blessing and a curse. As a curse, it comes with a heavy price.              When he stuck out his neck out for example, in support of the Supreme Court verdict that   affirmed that INEC lacks the power to disqualify candidates to run for any elective office, he paid a huge price including harassment and intimidation by the powers-that-be at the time. As a blessing, the reward is unquantifiable. Being the Bauchi State chief executive is one such; a   testimony of his firmness and trustworthiness as a leader.

    At the IPAC award ceremony, the chairman of the occasion, Atiku Abubakar who was at the receiving end of the INEC’s illegal disqualification hammer, paid tribute to the Bauchi governor for standing firm in support of the right of political parties to field candidates. Organizers of the 11th Abuja International Housing Show were impressed by the governor’s grim battle of urban renewal state-wide.

    According to them, Bauchi government’s effort to improve the infrastructure of the three major urban centres of Bauchi, Azare and Misau prompted them to inspect the state. A major criterion for selecting the winner of this prestigious award was a surprise visit to the state without the knowledge of the government, by a team of housing and urban professionals. Bauchi received the highest mark for rapid urbanization hence the award.

    Despite limited funds, Bauchi State has continued to implement both human and infrastructural development projects. Projects like the dualization, rehabilitation or upgrades of Awalah roundabout – Kano road, Ran road, Bauchi – Gombe road, ATBU link road, Udubo – Gamawa road, Darazo – Gabchiyari road, Jama’are road, Sule Katagum road to mention a few are in various stages of completion. All these Abubakar has been able to achieve in just two years in office.

    Clearly MA Abubakar is on a mission. In two years he has achieved  what others only dream about. His frugality in the management of limited resources and service delivery will continue to earn him laurels and garlands.

     

    • Ali is aide to Governor Abubakar.

     

  • How Nigeria can survive, by Abubakar

    How Nigeria can survive, by Abubakar

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that the country will overcome current socio-economic and political challenges.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain made the assertion at the recent the ‘Silverbird Man of the Year Award’ where he received the ‘Extraordinary Achievement Award.’

    He said the solution to the challenges were unity among Nigerians and good leadership.

    The representative of the former Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Very Revd Msgr. Francis  Ogunmodede, First Episcopal Vicar of Lekki Region, who received the award on behalf of the renowned clergy, Anthony Cardinal Okojie, noted that the former Vice President is a potential president.

    Speaking after he was presented with the award by Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Bagudu, Atiku said: “Recession, depression are economics situations that go through every nation on earth, and I believe Nigerians of all works of life have the capacity to turn around our current economic challenges into prosperity. All what is required is the unity of Nigeria and right leadership to turn around this economic situation into prosperity for most of our people.

    “I believe that every responsible government should emphasis on youth development and empowerment so that our prosperity can return to us”.

    Ogunmodede said that the nation needed a change both economically and politically, adding that “I believe the one who can make the difference is in this hall with us.”

    The guest lecturer, Senator Dina melaye had earlier insisted that unless there is absolute separation of powers among the tiers of government, the nation’s democracy may collapse.

  • Abubakar invites 13 players for Gombe Utd screening

    • Says ‘I’m still in charge of the team

    Gombe United technical adviser, Hassan Abubakar has invited 13 new players for a week’s screening exercise.

    Abubakar disclosed to SportingLife that the screening will start today and end by weekend.

    The former  Technical Adviser of Olympic FC of Niamey, Niger Republic, who guided the team to the premier league, said he wants to beef up the team ahead of the Super Four clash.

    He also stressed further that the team will start the pre-season camping at the end of the screening in a bid to have a good outing at the Super Four which he aims to win.

    “I have invited 13 good players for screening to reinforce the team. The screening starts on Monday and ends at weekend. We are planning for pre-season training but it is not yet decided. The purpose of the pre-season is to prepare ahead of the super four competition which I hope to win and get the cup,” Abubakar disclosed to SportingLife.

    The former Technical Adviser to Niger Tornadoes, Kaduna United, Zamfara United, Sunshine Stars, Wikki Tourists, JUTH and Dolphins also said he is not distracted with the speculation going around about his position at the club.

    “Everybody has the right to make his opinion. As you are hearing it I am hearing it too. All I now is that I am still in charge of the team for now. The club’s management has not told me that  theleadership position  has changed. We are preparing well and we are not distracted.”