Abdulfatah Ahmed

Abdulfatah Ahmed (born 29 December 1963) is a Nigerian banker and politician. He is the former Governor of Kwara State. Quotes The financial challenges started kicking in and around 2013, 2014. The first thing we did was to look internally. We reviewed our revenue generating strategies, we changed the people, we changed our processes and engaged technology and this saw the movement of our revenues from an annual accrual of about N7bn to about N17bn. That automatically created some level of headroom to carry out recurrent and capital expenditure, hence, our ability to support salary payment and carry out some of the projects we’ve been able to carry out. The current situation in the country is saddening. I think it requires a holistic approach given the fact that the cattle rearing business is part of the national economy which must be given its proper place to truly enable it to contribute to the economy. The current rate at which cattle rearing is done needs to be reviewed and seen in the context of today’s reality because the size of land available is different from what used to be available. If you look at the whole issue of clashes between the herdsmen and farmers, it’s about land use; it’s about being able to appropriately use land to create wealth. There are better ways by which this can be done through dialogue, through looking at the working models in different environments, domesticating them and improving advocacy on peaceful co-existence. In Kwara State, we’ve approached the issue of farmers/herdsmen clashes through dialogue and understanding which have since led to peaceful co-existence and have allowed for areas of infractions to come with compensation. It’s mutually agreed that when farms are trampled on or destroyed, they come with compensation and this has been adhered to by the various associations of cattle breeders which has also created a much more peaceful environment. Of course, there are skirmishes here and there, it is not unexpected but not to the scale that will require the deployment of security forces. It’s still at levels where it can be mutually sorted out. So far, our mode of approach has been through dialogue and inclusive agreements between the cattle rearers and farmers on what should be done at what time and defining areas of the use at a point in time and so far, we are happy with what we have on the ground. I think we should look at what is going to work for us as a country. We must realise that the cattle herders in the light of the services they render to the country’s economy, we need to have a very responsive agriculture ministry which must pursue policies that will ensure everybody is carried along. I am sure by the time we are able to sit and look at practices that are carried out in other parts of the world, we would be able to domesticate something that will suit our interest and will suit our peculiarities. One thing is clear, the way and manner we used to do it in the past, is no longer possible because the space is getting smaller, the population is growing and we require optimal land use in such a way and manner that we will begin to reap the benefit. First things first, domesticate what is done in different parts of the world and begin to see how to truly skew our people through advocacy and other methods that will make them find the new methods attractive and move on to the new level. I was part and parcel of the administration (of Bukola Saraki) when he was here as governor. I was part and parcel of the economic team. I was part and parcel of the planning team and I was part and parcel of articulating the programme that would see the development of Kwara from point A to point B, employing all available resources. So, it was only natural that when I was coming on board, it would be foolhardy for me to say I want to run the state without getting input from him or others who have input to give because governance is about taking ideas from people. You must be able to listen to constructive criticism and use that as the basis to change things from the way they are if they are not in the way they should be. By and large, we have been working based on campaign promises, based on input from all those who can support us. We even give room for opposition who come with constructive criticism. So, the issue of pocketing or not pocketing; it’s not a private business, it’s not Abdulfatah Nigeria Limited, it’s the business of Kwara and Kwarans have been input providers in getting us to the current level. I have had town hall meetings across the state. For him, he can only serve as a guide to us because whether we like it or not, he’s had that experience. Whoever is coming in tomorrow as governor, will necessarily listen to me if he truly wants to see some things achieved because I’ve gone through this experience and there is no substitute for experience.