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  • Ahmed recalls magic of Katsina centenary polo fiesta

    Ahmed recalls magic of Katsina centenary polo fiesta

    The recently concluded Katsina Centenary polo tournament that thrilled for eight days at the foremost Sir Usman Nagogo Polo Ground in the ancient kingdom is still  receiving  rave reviews within the global polo fraternity..

    One player, Prince Ahmed Abdulmumuni Kabir, who participated in the historic event in the colour of Katsina Kangiwa polo team , said the  memory of the epic festival that celebrated the 100 years of the tournament and showcase the rich cultural heritage of kingdom, will remain a lifetime memory in  his chequered  polo career.

     “It’s unforgettable and difficult to put it in words,” the charming Ahmed  said with smiles. “Being part of the centenary celebration of the noble game was an overwhelming experience.

    “ The excitement, the showmanship and the displays all through the week was awesome and for me to witness that epic celebration in the “Home of Nigerian Polo was indeed great.

     “ The entire city and indeed the state was agog with celebration and for me to be fortune to be part of the historic fiesta that put the king of games on the showcase and celebrated the game as a living sport in the kingdom dating back a century, remains the best part of my polo career yet,” he added.

    Prince Ahmed,  a banker, started playing polo in 2014 but polo has been the sporting endeavour of the Katsina’s  royal family ever since his great grandfather, Emir Muhammadu Dikko introduced the game in his kingdom and promoted the game across northern Nigeria way back in the early 1920s.

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     “My first polo tournament was in 2015 where we won the General Hassan Katsina Cup and was a winner of one of the most popular low-goal polo titles in Nigeria, the EL-Amin Cup in \Kaduna the following year,” he stated. 

    Since then,  Ahmed whose best playing position is the number one position in polo, has participated in many tournaments, and won top  laurels across the country alongside his elder brother, Magajin Gari Katsina, Prince Aminu Abdulmumuni, Mustapha  Bargiwa, Ahmadu Balaho and former Katsina Polo Captain, Abba Kangiwa.

     “My best tournament so far will be the Niger Delta Polo Tournament in Port Harcourt a few years ago where we won the much sought- after title, the T.Y Danjuma Cup defeating more experienced teams and home crowd favourites oppositions from Port Harcourt,” he recalled. “What made it special is the fact that my mentor and my father, the Emir of Katsina, His Royal Highness Dr. Alhaji Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman,  was part of the crowd and his presence was my biggest motivation.”

    Ahmed, who is presently a zero handicap player,  hope to reach three goals and play  like Ashraf Yahaya, the midfield maestro of Jos Malcomines team from Yola Polo Club,  whose fighting spirit and team commitment is second to none.

    The centenary polo extravaganza that attracted 33 teams from across the country loaded with foreign professionals and best of Nigerian stars produced proud winners in four handicap categories, with Jos Malcomines making history as the winners of the  centenary edition of the Nigerian Cup.

    Home crowd favourites, Katsina Danmarna polo team led by the Chairman of Katsina Polo Club, Muhammadu Sarki clinched the General Hassan Katsina Cup played in everlasting memory of the first Life Chairman of the Nigerian Polo.

    Other proud winners include the Rubicon polo team and their Katsina Max Air counterparts who shared the spoils of the Muhammadu Dikko Cup.

    Captain of Katsina Polo Club, Usman Sarki and his brother, Isah Sarki led Aldusar team to clinch the Talba Cup, against the Nigerian Army team in a fiercely contested final.

  • JUST IN: Court grants ex-Kwara gov Ahmed ₦50m bail

    JUST IN: Court grants ex-Kwara gov Ahmed ₦50m bail

    Former governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed, has been granted bail by the Federal High Court Ilorin in the sum of ₦50,000,000.

    He will provide two sureties with landed properties in Ilorin, the state capital.

    Read Also: Alleged N10b diversion: PDP members protest detention of ex-Kwara Governor Ahmed

    The former governor was arraigned on Friday, February 23, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following his invitation by the anti-graft agency for questioning on Monday.

    Ahmed will also deposit his international passport with the court among other conditions.

    Details shortly…

  • Nigeria’s economic growth will continue apace, says Ahmed

    •GDP grows for 7 consecutive quarters

    After growing for seven consecutive quarters, Nigeria’s macroeconomic landscape remains promising as government’s diversification agenda bears more fruits.

    Acting Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who spoke at the quarterly world press conference held in Abuja, highlighted the trends and achievements of the economy over the last quarter, noting that government was redoubling its efforts to ensure that the economy stays on a path that is sustainable in growth.

    As growth accelerates and consumers appear to loosen their belts, the economic expansion looks to continue even though competition for increasingly scarce naira will continue to be hot.

    According to her, through the implementation of policies in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) which the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari developed in 2017, Nigeria has seen the economy exit from recession and move towards a path of growth that is sustainable, inclusive as well as diversified.

    “Notably, we have achieved seven consecutive quarters of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth since the economy exited recession in the second quarter of 2017,” Ahmed said.

    Though business executives will still need to fight hard for growth in their endeavour, it is noteworthy that as at fourth quarter 2018, the economy grew by 2.38 per cent in real terms year-on-year, representing an increase of 0.27 per cent compared to fourth quarter 2017 and a rise of 0.55 per cent compared with the growth rate in third quarter 2018. Overall, GDP grew at an annual rate of 1.93 per cent in 2018 compared to 0.82 per cent in 2017. This represents an overall increase of 1.11 per cent year-on-year.

    The growth cycle has proved surprisingly sturdy, even in the face of apparent shocks such as the recession and the earlier plunge in the oil price. The Nigerian recession was a bad news for the African economy. This is because Nigerian economy is playing supercharged locomotive to the continent. In the aftermath of the challenges, economic indices have continued to look upbeat, expanding and growing more impregnable.

    Apart from the fact that there is continued and deliberate effort to deepen the Nigerian non-oil economic performance with non-oil GDP growth of 2.70 per cent as at fourth quarter 2018, which represents a 0.38 per cent increase in growth compared to third quarter 2018, every sector is targeted to contribute to the increase in growth.

    According to Ahmed, the growth trend marks continued success of the administration’s efforts to diversify the economy away from oil revenue, with continued record growth in the non-oil sector, while the country has been able to boost and maintain more stable oil production levels.

    “We are making strategic investments in critical infrastructure and in human capital to spur further economic growth. Our plan is to improve the fiscal space by boosting revenues as well as implementing the ongoing work that we are doing through the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiatives,” Ahmed said.

    Of course the greater efficiency will help the economy grow and whatever the government is doing is to stimulate the economy to make life better for everybody. Similarly, year-on-year inflation rates continue to improve from a high rate of 18.7 per cent in January 2017 to 11.37 per cent in April 2019.

    She noted that external reserves on one hand grew from $28.3 billion in 2015 to $44.69 billion as at May 13, 2019, representing a significant improvement that has helped to stabilize the economy, including stabilizing our exchange rates.

    “Our foreign exchange market remains relatively stable because from 2017 to now, there is a significant convergence of the Nigerian Interbank Foreign Exchange Fixing (NIFEX) and Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Fixing (NAFEX) windows, and they had in fact merged by the end of November 2018,” Ahmed.

     

  • Ahmed, Emefiele join experts at IMF/World Bank meeting

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed and the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, will join other economic experts from around the world to discuss issues affecting global economy in Washington DC, U.S.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the discussions are scheduled to hold between April 9 and April 14, under the auspices of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC.

    The 2019 Spring Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank is expected to bring together central bank governors, ministers of finance, parliamentarians, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organisations and the academia.

    The experts will discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development and aid effectiveness.

    The meeting will also feature seminars, regional briefings, press conferences and many other events with focus on global economy, international development and the world’s financial system.

    NAN reports that Nigeria attends the meeting each year because of the quantum of investments and technical support it receives from both the IMF and the World Bank.

    Although Nigeria currently has zero loans with the IMF, it enjoys technical support from the organisation.

    The World Bank Group on the other hand is helping to fight poverty and improve living standards in the country through 33 Core Knowledge Product Reports and 29 ongoing National and Regional projects.

    This is in addition to about 60 Trust Funds.

    The World Bank Group since 1958, has supported Nigeria with loans and International Development Association (IDA) credits worth about 14.2 billion dollars.

    The group in 2017 fiscal year alone committed 1.51 billion dollars to Nigeria, 2.58 billion dollars in 2018 and in 2019; it has already committed 20 million dollars on different development projects across the country.

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    Some of the projects are on nutrition, polio eradication, conflict monitoring, electrification, erosion, education, economic transformation, promoting fiscal transparency and accountability in states.

    Meanwhile, the Executive Directors of the World Bank on Friday unanimously selected David Malpass as President of the World Bank Group for a five-year term, effective Tuesday.

    Earlier in his career, Malpass served as the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Developing Nations and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American Economic Affairs.

  • ‘Ahmed out to destroy LG pensioners in Kwara’

    Retirees under the aegis of Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigeria have accused the Kwara state government of planning to totally annihilating local government pensioners.

    The association condemned the discriminatory attitude of the state government as reflected in the state Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC)’s Monday meeting.

    In a statement Chairman, Secretary and spokesperson of the association Alhaji Isiaka Akanbi, Alhaji K.A Audu and Prince Ademola Ajibade said the state government owes the pensioners over nine- month pension arrears.

    The statement reads: “In the meeting, the JAAC allocated 100 percent salaries to the state Universal Education Board (SUBEB) and serving local government staff whereas the pensioners and vulnerable were paid 40 percent pension for the month of February, 2019.

    “The association believes that this action was taken as fallout of the conference its members held with the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership where the pensioners tabled their plights.

    Read Also: ‘Ahmed out to destroy LG pensioners in Kwara’

    “For the purpose of clarity, only 40 percent of monthly pension for the month of February is being paid to local government/local

    government education authority pensioners in the state as against the picture painted in the media by the state government that retirees were paid 100 percent for the said month.

    “The association therefore condemns this callous attitude of the state government being perpetrated since the assumption of office of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

    “It hereby calls on well-meaning Kwarans to prevail on the state government to ensure that this obnoxious attitude targeted at the aged personnel is put to a stop.”

  • Abdulrazaq slams Ahmed over comments on local govt administration

    The Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, yesterday faulted the claims by Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed that President Muhammadu Buhari was responsible for the poverty and underdevelopment at the grassroots.

    He blamed the poverty and underdevelopment at the grassroots in the state on what he called diversion of local government funds by the state government.

    At a campaign stopover in Isin Local Government Area last weekend, Ahmed blamed widespread poverty at the grassroots on the Buhari administration.

    But the media aide to Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq Governorship Campaign Organisation, Rafiu Ajakaye, said poverty and underdevelopment in Kwara State were the result of constant diversion of local government funds by the state government under Ahmed.

    In a statement in Ilorin, the state capital, Ajakaye said: “The truth is that the governor and his political leader, Bukola Saraki, conditioned our people to poverty and underdevelopment, not President Buhari. They crippled the local government with repeated diversion of local government funds to some questionable joint accounts.

    “We recall that protests by some local government chairmen, including Dele Abiodun of Ekiti and Ajimati of Oyun local government areas, against this evil diversion of council funds was met with unlawful, Gestapo-like dismissal and it took the erudition of their Lordships of the Appeal and Supreme courts to reverse this ‘gangsterism’.

    “Today, our local councils are unable to serve the grassroots, execute any project or pay salary because of this continued diversion of their funds by the Kwara State government. How is President Buhari guilty of this? Has the President ever withheld funds to any of these councils? If not, on what basis can anyone accuse him of impoverishing the grassroots?

    “The governor’s statement was a dubious yet a failed attempt to deceive the public on the true state of the situation, and this is both irresponsible and devilish. It exposes the governor and his bosses as politicians who exploit people’s lack of access to basic education and information, which they systematically perpetuate, to lie over issues of governance.

    “We assure the governor that there is nothing he or his party will say to save them from imminent defeat at the polls because Nigerians are aware that the P resident is a man who has not discriminated against any state in the running of his government, unlike one of their patrons who ran his administration based on vendetta and childish politicking of allocation of state resources.”

  • Candidates’ list: INEC published my name in error, says Ahmed

    Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, yesterday said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) mistakenly published his name as the Kwara South senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He added that Senator Rafiu Ibrahim remains the PDP candidate for Kwara south senatorial district.

    The governor said this in Idofin Odo-Ase, Oke – Ero local government area of the state during PDP campaign rally in the area.

    INEC had included his name in error on the list of National Assembly candidates the electoral body released on Thursday. Ahmed, who openly campaigned for Senator Ibrahim, asked the people not to entertain any fear about the development, assuring them that the mix up  would be  corrected. “Concerning the post of the senator, the person who is there at the present is the one we want to return and by the grace of God, he will be returned,” he said.

    Ahmed had about a month ago voluntarily withdrew from the race to enable the incumbent Senator Rafiu Ibrahim re-contest on the platform of the PDP.

    In another community, Idofin-Igbana, the governor described Ibrahim as a very capable and experienced candidate and urged people of the community to vote for him and other candidates of the party including Atiku Abubakar, who is the presidential candidate and Hon. Razak Atunwa, who is the governorship candidate of the party in the state.

    Also speaking at the party’s campaign rally in Idofin-Igbana, , the PDP governorship candidate, Razak Atunwa, promised to address requests of the communities which include employment for the youths and upgrading of the stool of traditional rulers in the area. “Be rest assured, all what is released will be corrected. Everything will be corrected the way we want it,” he said.

  • Perpetrators of political violence will be punished, says Ahmed

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday said the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on perpetrators of the violence the state witnessed recently.

    The governor said his administration would not allow the state to slide into the dark era of fear and violence.

    Ahmed spoke in Ilorin, the state capital, in a state-wide radio broadcast.

    He said: “As an additional security measure, political street rallies and processions are hereby banned across the state. Only political rallies in designated areas and with prior notification to the police command will be allowed henceforth.

    “No individual, group or political party will be allowed to disrupt the harmony that defines us as a people.

    “As you are aware, political campaigns have commenced ahead of the general elections. In keeping with the tradition in our state, these campaigns were expected to be robust but peaceful.

    “Unfortunately, what we have witnessed instead is an increasing resort to criminality as a result of heightened political activities, with a consequent threat to law and order.

    “Anyone found to have either contributed to the recent violence or apprehended for involvement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, no matter their status, background or political affiliation.

    “Kwara State’s peace, security and harmony cannot and will not be sacrificed for the ambition of any individual or political party.

    “Yesterday (Monday), I chaired an emergency state Security Council meeting and charged the police and other security agencies to deploy all lawful measures to secure lives and property in the state.

    “Following assurances by the security agencies, I urge all our people to go about their lawful activities without fear for their safety. Our security agencies are capable and ready to forestall any further recurrence of such ugly incident.

    “As your governor, I assure you that no effort will be spared by my government to protect the lives and property of all law-abiding residents of the state.

    “I also urge you to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities, movements and developments to security agencies for prompt action.

    “In this regard, I have approved the establishment of a Joint Military Task Force comprising the police, Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Civil Defence and the National Drug law enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    “This body is tasked with providing an extra layer of security and preventing a recurrence of the political violence witnessed in the last couple of days.

    “The state police command is hereby authorised to ensure full compliance.

    “Political parties and their supporters are also charged to campaign and solicit votes in a lawful manner and refrain from deploying divisive and inciting rhetoric or instigating violence against real or perceived opponents. Thuggery, vandalism, intimidation and other forms of criminality will neither be allowed no condoned in any part of the state.

    “Those who aspire to political leadership must conduct themselves in a peaceful and lawful manner while prioritising the safety of those they seek to lead.

    “I urge you to remain calm as your security and safety will continue to be protected and guaranteed by the security agencies. Please, be assured that all constitutional means will be deployed for your safety before, during and after the forthcoming elections.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ahmed decries destruction of parties’ billboards

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has described as unfortunate and unacceptable, the vandalisation of billboards belonging to political parties and their candidates by unknown persons.

    Last week, Police Commissioner Bashir Manama said he would not condone destruction of parties’ billboards ahead of next year’s general elections.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Communication, Dr Muyideen Akorede, the governor warned parties, their candidates and supporters to desist from such actions in the interest of peace and harmonious coexistence.

    He urged political parties and their candidates to campaign for votes on the basis on their ideas and plans for the electorate, rather than the use of force, violent rhetoric or taking the law into their hands.

    The governor said only the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and the Kwara State Signage and Advertising Agency (KWASAA) were authorised by law to either approve or remove outdoor advertising for non-compliance with existing regulations.

    He added that the police and other law enforcement agencies had been advised to arrest and prosecute anyone violating the law on outdoor advertising or illegally destroying billboards.

    Also, the police yesterday promised to arrest and bring to justice anyone found destroying political billboards in the state.

    A statement by the command’s spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi noted “with dismay, the attitude of miscreants, in spite of the admonition and plea for peaceful co-existence among political parties and assurances freely expressed by politicians in several fora with the police command”.

    It added: “Some unscrupulous elements, persons or group of individuals had thrown this warning to the winds by destroying billboards, banners and posters of candidates displayed around Ilorin metropolis. This is unacceptable.

    “The command has set in motion machinery to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this dastardly act to face the full wrath of the law.”

  • Ahmed presents N158b budget estimate to Assembly

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday presented N157.5 billion as 2019 budget estimate to the House of Assembly.

    The 2019 budget shows a marginal increase of N1 billion over this year’s budget.

    The Appropriation Bill is named: Budget of Consolidation and Prosperity.

    Presenting the Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly, Ahmed said next year’s draft budget is designed to focus on the successful completion of projects across the state.

    The governor said the implementation of the budget would enable the government to consolidate on the gains of the past years in the provision of social amenities.

    Ahmed, who said the overall performance of this year’s budget was 60.5 per cent, added that next year’s budget is premised on improved internally generated revenue (IGR) through land administration for sustainable economic growth and development.

    He said: “The 2019 draft budget is designed to focus on the successful completion of ongoing projects and the effective implementation of programmes and projects which have direct bearing the people’s wellbeing. This direction will enable the government to consolidate on the gains of the past years in the provision of social amenities for our people.

    “Furthermore, the 2019 budget will only be partially implemented by this administration. Therefore, it is imperative that we put our revenue and expenditure on a sound footing to guarantee that the incoming administration takes off effectively…

    “The economic and fiscal environment in which the 2019 budget will be implemented will not be significantly different from that of the 2018 budget due to a generally uncertain economic environment with a predicted effect on unstable revenue profile.

    “The 2018 budget was principally designed to build a vibrant and robust economy and ensure that the citizens of Kwara State are prosperous. As of September 2018, the overall budget performance was 60.5 per cent. The capital expenditure recorded 41.4 per cent while recurrent expenditure was 79.4 per cent.”

    Of the total budget, N77.720 billion or 49 per cent is for recurrent expenditure while N79.784 billion or 51 per cent is for capital expenditure.

    Ahmed said his administration projects that the state will get N49.940 billion or 31.7 per cent from the Federation Account; N11.387 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT); N24.41 billion as the state’s share of expected revenue refunds due to the state from the Federal Government and N33.970 billion as internally generated income.