Tag Archives: AHMED

Governor Ahmed Signs 2017 Budget Into Law.

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The Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has assented to 160.9billion Naira 2017 budget as passed by the Kwara State House of Assembly.

Speaking during the signing ceremony at his office, Governor Ahmed said with the signing of the budget into law, his administration will commence execution of some major capital projects immediately, starting with the new campuses of Kwara State University (KWASU) and all other major projects across the state.

“I want to assure you that as we sign the budget into law, we will hit the ground running.

“In this regard, some major capital projects slated for execution this year will be flagged-off from next week.

“We will start with the campuses of Kwara State University, we are building for Ilorin School of Governance, College of Agriculture in Ilesha-Baruba and of course, the Osi Campus.

“We will also be flagging-off the dual carriage roads and all other projects”, he said.

Ahmed said his government is working round the clock to ensure that funding for the budget is made available through the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for optimal implementation of the appropriation law.

He also said he will uphold adherence to the provisions of the budget, while commending the House of Assembly for its professional approach to legislative function.

Dr. Ahmed said the House will however be approached for supplementary appropriation where the need arises.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ali Ahmad said the House has passed a budget of 160.9 billion Naira with over 90billion Naira devoted to capital expenditure where all the indices put in place by international organisations are present.

He said it is a budget that will be different from all the budgets earlier passed in the state.

Hon. Ahmad stated that with the injection of significant capital expenditure into the economy, the state will surely move out of recession faster than expected.

It will be recalled that Governor Ahmed presented the 2017 budget estimate of 135,064,529,461 billion Naira to members of the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval on December 29, 2016.

However, the approved budget was increased by the House to 160.9billion Naira, with 90.1billion Naira voted for capital expenditure, while 70.7billion Naira was allocated to recurrent expenditure.

 

Source: Channels TV

Kwara detects 8863 ghost workers on payroll

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A committee that audited the workforce of Kwara State has said it detected 8,863 ghost workers and pensioners on the payrolls of both the state and local governments.

 

The Personnel Database Development committee, which presented its report to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed at Government House, Ilorin on Monday, said the development could potentially save the state and its 16 local governments N437 million monthly.

 

Making the presentation, the alternate chairman of the committee, Isiaka Gold, said the 8,863 personnel did not appear for a staff biometric verification exercise carried out by the committee.

 

Mr. Gold, who is also the secretary to the state government, said the state and local governments had 81,446 workers and pensioners on their payrolls, but that only 72,583 of them were cleared by the exercise.

 

Giving a further breakdown of the report, Mr. Gold said that of the 35,656 workers on the state government payroll, only 31,652 were verified, leaving 4,004 unverified personnel.

 

He said out of the 45,790 workers and pensioners on the payrolls of the 16 LGs in the state, only 40,931 were verified, with 4,859 unverified.

 

The committee recommended that the verification exercise should be continuous and that the state government should implement a harmonized staff identification system, certificate verification and clock-in system, which will be deployed by a consultant at no cost to the government.

 

In his response, Governor Ahmed endorsed all the findings of the committee and directed the State Ministry of Finance to adopt the committee’s report to prepare the payroll of both the local and state government workers henceforth.

 

The governor, however, said that the ministry should warehouse the projected savings until it was ascertained that all workers and pensioners were verified.

 

Governor Ahmed thanked the consultant and members of the committee for the quality work done and expressed confidence that with the submission of the report, there would be an effective payroll administration at both the local and state levels.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed Seeks Urgent Prison Reforms

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The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has called for urgent reforms of the prison system in Nigeria so that prisons can achieve the role of reforming convicted prisoners before their re-entry into society.

Governor Ahmed made the call on Sunday while receiving the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Mr. Ja’afaru Ahmed, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Ilorin in the wake of recent deaths of inmates at Nigeria Prison, Oke Kura, Ilorin.

Describing the incident as unfortunate,  the governor noted that the restructuring of the prison system should address the challenges affecting administration of prisons in the country especially in the area of infrastructure and prisoner rehabilitation.

Alhaji Ahmed stressed that the deteriorating condition of prisons in Nigeria has become an issue of major concern to many Nigerians, noting that any faulty prison system will adversely affect the service and the society as a whole as unreformed ex-convicts may reoffend.

He noted that it is impossible for prisons built decades ago when Nigeria’s population was much lower to cope with the rising number of inmates as a result of increase in the national population and, consequently, crime.

He, therefore, urged the Prison Comptroller-General to liaise with the supervising Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum so as to table the issue before the National Economic Council (NEC), and secure the support of state governments.

Governor Ahmed noted that the Kwara State government has programmes in place including the State Micro-credit Intervention Scheme and the International Vocational Center at Ajase-Ipo, which are geared towards making the youths productively engaged in order to minimize criminal tendencies.

He also disclosed that in line with global best practices, the state government will extend the vocational training programme to prisons in the State in order to empower interested inmates so that they will be engaged and effectively reintegrated into the society after serving their sentences.

Earlier in his remarks, the NPS Comptroller-General, Mr. Ahmed  called on the Kwara State government to assist prisons in the State with vehicles and other logistic support.

He lamented that most prisons across the country are congested noting the Oke Kura Prison, Ilorin is no exception. He said such congestion often creates friction among inmates and prison officials which sometimes results into violence.

Mr. Jafaru also emphasized the urgent need to decongest and secure prison facilities across the country.

Governor Ahmed Constitutes Transition Committees for 16 Local Governments.

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The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the constitution of Transition Implementation Committees (TICs) for the sixteen local governments in the state following the dissolution of the councils last week.

 

According to a statement issued by the Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji Sola Isiaka Gold, each TIC comprises a Chairman and three Supervisory Councillors. The Secretary to the State Government said the new TICs will be inaugurated next week Monday, 14th November, 2016 by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

 

Details to follow soon.

Kwara: Ensuring Sustainable Road Infrastructure – By Opeyemi Azeez

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The present administration in Kwara State set a new record in October 2016 when Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed commissioned the first state-owned N200 million Asphalt Plant built with the capacity to produce 25 tons of asphalt per day. Considerably, it’s a leap to bridge the road infrastructural gaps in the State.

The development, objectively, has the potency to solve the major problems faced by the State Road Maintenance Agency (KWARMA) in the maintenance and further accomplishment of quality road networks across the State.

Beyond the rhetoric, however, what is plausible is to ensure the government remains on track by blocking all chance for distractive circumstances. In other words, the commendations should be less important. Rather: the end goals.

On the heels of the progress, the State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Aro Yahaya, recounted the need to domesticate the production of quality asphalt, and by so doing: generate employment for both skilled and unskilled labour, reduce cost of road maintenance, and provide quick response to the impact of erosion and road degradation. According to him, these needs made it imperative for the State government to acquire the asphalt plant.

From the above, the acquisition of the plant is worthy, realizing the direct impacts it bears on the duo of the government and the people, simultaneously.

Since the commissioning of the plant, respite has overwhelmed motorists and other road users in the State courtesy of the quick (statewide) road rehabilitations embarked upon by KWARMA.

Crowning to the employment opportunities and substantial reduction in the cost of road maintenance is the increasing source, provided by the plant, for more revenue generation through the sale of asphalt to contractors and other users.  Revenue generated will assist the government to actualize more projects in other sectors.

It is also cheering to note that despite the lean financial resources at the disposal of the State government, contractors handling various road projects across the State have been mobilized back to sites. Almost on daily basis, we hear of the Works Commissioner inspecting road projects across the State. While a few of these projects have been completed, many others are ongoing including the Maigida-Arobadi road in Moro local government, Ilala brigde, Oloro palace road and Share-Oke ode road (lot 1 and 2).

Other ongoing road projects are Coca cola bridge road, Egbejila-airport road, Agbo-oba – Henry-George extension, and Amule Saraki bridge. Some of the roads that have been completed are the Babalonma township roads, mini-campus- Henry George road and Adua lere – Sanu  Sheu- Isale  koko road.

With the establishment of the Kwara Infrastructure Development Fund (IF-K) by the State government, Kwara will no doubt witness unprecedented infrastructural growth as IF-K  provides a sustainable funding window and ensures that all ongoing and new capital projects across the State are funded to completion, thereby ending the era of abandoned project in Kwara.

The Geri-Alimi diamond underpass is among several other infrastructural projects planned for implementation under the IF-K scheme. Others are the establishment of two campuses of the Kwara State University in Osi and Ilesha-Baruba, dualisation of Michael Imodu-Ganmi road; dualisation of UITH-Sango road, renovation of the Indoor Sports Hall of the Kwara State Stadium and the Light Up Kwara projects.

Certainly, there is no doubt about Governor Ahmed’s determination and commitment to ensure that Kwara State becomes self-reliant and achieve sustainable development by looking inwards to solve its challenges and initiate far-reaching measures to carry-out developmental projects in the face of lingering national economic downturn.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed Dissolves Local Government Councils.

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The Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the dissolution of the local government councils of Asa, Baruten, Edu, Ekiti, Ifelodun, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Irepodun, Isin, Kaiama, Moro, Offa, Oke-Ero, Oyun and Pategi.

The dissolution of the Local Government Councils, which is contained in the Kwara State Legal Notices No.4-19, is in exercise of the Governor’s power conferred on him by section 18(5) (c) of the Kwara State Local Government Law (as amended) cap K33, Laws of Kwara State.

The dissolution of the councils is with effect from today, 4th Day of November, 2016. As a result, all the affected public office holders including the Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, Councillors, Secretaries to the Local Government Councils and Supervisors shall immediately vacate their offices and handover to their respective Directors of Personnel Management (DPMs)

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed appreciates the contributions and support of the affected officers towards the development of the state and wishes them success in their future endeavours.

Signed

Alhaji Sola Isiaka Gold

Secretary to the Government of Kwara State

Gov Ahmed Commits to Rule of Law as Kwara Wins Human Rights Award

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Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed on Wednesday reiterated the commitment of his administration to safeguarding the rule of law and the protection of fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the constitution.

The Governor spoke at the 2016 National Human Rights Conference in Lagos organized by the Constitutional Right Awareness and Liberty Initiative, where Kwara State was awarded the Human Rights Friendly State of the year 2016 in the north central zone.

Governor Ahmed, who was represented by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kamaldeen Ajibade, noted that the actions of his government are always guided by the laws of Nigeria and the need to safeguard individual liberties and rights.

According to him, the justice administration system in the State is geared towards quick, affordable and accessible dispensation of justice, providing fair hearing right to all and sundry, irrespective of position, status, creed, belief or influence.

He noted that the promotion of these human rights have in turn provided the proper environment of peace and development in the State, stressing that respect for human rights is a powerful tool with which the Nation can achieve the much-desired peace and progress.

Governor Ahmed added that the observance of rule of law is also a critical driver of economic growth and investment, especially from abroad.

The governor also commended the United States Consulate General and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs for partnering with the Constitutional Rights Awareness and Liberty Initiative in launching the first ever simplified Human Rights mobile Application in Pidgin and English languages for android phone users in Nigeria.

Babanloma Community Lauds Governor Ahmed on Roads.

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Members of the Babanloma Community in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State under the auspices of Babanloma Descendants Union have commended the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed for fulfilling his campaign promises by rehabilitating two township roads in the community.

 

The appreciation was contained in a letter  to the governor signed by the Union’s National President, Mr. Afolabi Salami and its National Secretary, Dr. Dauda Adeshola.

 

The union pledged the community’s support and loyalty to the Kwara State government and prayed that “ God Almighty continue to strengthen the effort of Governor Ahmed’s administration aimed at improving the lots of people of the State.”

 

It will be recalled that the State government last week completed the rehabilitation of two township roads in Babalonma

Governor Ahmed of Kwara State launches #InfraFundKwara today.

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Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed will perform the official launch of the State Infrastructure Development Fund (IFK) today.

 

The alternate Chairman of the IFK Implementation Committee, Alhaji Abdulwahab Yusuf, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said that Governor Ahmed will also sign an agreement with the independent for trustees of the scheme.

 

According to him, the event is holding at the Government House, Ilorin and is being witnessed by stakeholders in the banking, business, education and construction and public sectors as well as government.

 

Alhaji Abdulwahab noted that the official launch of the IFK will mark the commencement of the scheme, which according to him was established as a sustainable funding window for the implementation of major capital projects and also ensure prompt payments to contractors.

Gov. Ahmed calls for diversification of economy with agriculture

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Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has called for urgent diversification of Nigerian economy with agriculture as the only credible and sustainable solution to the current economic recession in the country.

The governor made the call on Thursday when First Class Traditional Rulers from Kwara South Senatorial District visited him at the Government House, Ilorin.

He also called on the Federal Government to reconsider diversification of economy to agriculture with deliberate effort on advocacy on agriculture as a source of wealth.

He promised that the State Government would continue to assist farmers with information, seedlings and chemicals to boost agri-business in the state.

Ahmed urged the traditional rulers to develop more interest in agriculture and continue to support programmes as well as policies of the state government.

He called on royal fathers in the country to be major players in the promotion of peace and security in their domains.

The governor noted that it was only when lives of people and their property were secured that government’s developmental and infrastructural efforts could yield desired results.

Ahmed said: “Government will continue to partner with our royal fathers on security so that people can live in peace.

“It is only when we have a secured environment that we can truly progress economically.”

Ahmed promised the royal fathers that his administration would be transparent in the area of project execution.

He noted: “Transparency in governance is necessary for people to have confidence.”

The governor said that all projects to be initiated by the state government would be completed before December, 2018.

Earlier, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye, who led the traditional rulers, explained that the visit was to congratulate the governor on a successful Sallah celebration and promised continuous support to the state government.

Oba Esuwoye sought the support of the government to farmers in the state through the provision of farm inputs and fertilisers with a view to solving problems associated with food insecurity.

Ahmed also received traditional rulers from Kwara North Senatorial District, who were at the Government House to pay him a post Sallah homage.

Receiving the royal fathers led by the Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Chatta, Ahmed reiterated his administration’s commitment to quality service delivery through effective and responsive governance despite the prevailing economic challenges.

Ahmed promised that his administration will continue to work together with the traditional rulers and other stakeholders through inclusive governance.

He added that the state government remained receptive to constructive criticism that will deepen democratic governance in the state.

The governor promised that the state government will always ensure judicious use of tax payers’ money through even infrastructure development across the state.

He said: “We are very conscious that Kwara North is a major agricultural environment in the state.

“We will support agriculture in the area with road and other support schemes to ease movement of farm produce.”

Earlier, the Etsu Patigi and Vice Chairman, Kwara State Traditional Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Chatta, commended the governor’s style of governance and leadership.

The royal father promised that traditional rulers from Kwara North would continue to support the State government.

Governor Ahmed Approves Special Release of N36m for COED Salaries

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Following the release of N86, 996, 422.00 as the last quarterly subvention to the State-owned Tertiary Institutions for 2016, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed on Friday approved a special release of another N36, 091, 000 to the College of Education, Oro.

The State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, who disclosed this, noted the N36m release to COE, Oro is to assist the school to pay its workers’ salaries.

Alhaji Banu said that the State government is working with the College management to find a permanent solution to the salary crisis facing the institution.

He said Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is optimistic that the Visitation Panel to the College will come up with relevant recommendations that will assist the government in making the school financially independent.

Recall that the State government recently set up a Visitation Panel to among other functions assess the operational practices of the College; examine the management of its finances as well as assess the relevance of courses offered.

 

The Panel is headed by Prof. K. S. Adeyemi of the Department of Economics, Kwara State University.

LG Salaries: Governor Ahmed Approves Release of N250m For August Salaries

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The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the release of N250 million as augmentation for local councils in the State to enable them pay their workers’ August, 2016 salaries in full.

 

According to the State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, the governor gave the approval on arrival from Abuja this evening, following the verification of the figures provided by the 16 LG chairmen in the State.

 

Alhaji Banu said with the approval, the local councils will start receiving the money as from tomorrow (Friday) morning after all necessary documentations are completed . He also expressed optimism that the LG workers will start getting their salary tomorrow.

 

The Commissioner noted that the N250 million will be shared among the local governments based on their specific shortfall in August allocation. Alhaji Banu expressed optimism that the current financial crisis facing all tiers of government in the country will soon be a thing of the past, while also urging the LG workers to be patient with their respective council authorities while the payments are processed.

 

It will be recalled that Governor Ahmed while meeting with LG chairmen and officials of the State chapter of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) on Tuesday, expressed the willingness of the State government to assist the local councils to meet their salary on a need by need basis

Kwara State: Government May Assist Individual LGs on Salary Arrears

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The Kwara State government says it is prepared to assist local councils in the State to pay their workers’ salaries on a case by case basis.

The State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed said this during a joint meeting with the 16 LG chairmen and the officials of the State Chapter of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

The governor frowned at NULGE’s resort to destroying public property and utilizing negative propaganda against the leadership of the State to protest delay in payment of salary.

Governor Ahmed noted that neither the State government nor the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki is responsible for the local council’s inability to pay workers’ salaries as wrongly alleged by the protesters.

He emphasized that the nation is currently going through a recession, which has impacted on allocations going to all tiers of government including local governments, which according to him is responsible for the delay in salary payment.

The governor, however, assured that the State government will consider coming to the aid of the local councils on a case by case basis if they adopt appropriate channels to make their demands.

Continuing, he emphasized that the LGs have varying degrees of salary arrears and therefore, urged their chairmen to approach the State’s Ministry of Finance for assistance on an individual basis.

According to him, the assistance will be considered on the basis of each local government’s peculiar case; State government’s available resources and the provisions of the law, as the 2016 appropriation  makes provision for the State government bailout to LGs.

He urged members of NULGE to either approach the House of Assembly for an amendment in JAAC law if they have any objection to its provisions or approach the Executive arm of government if they object to the implementation of the law.

Governor Ahmed also noted that NULGE members can as well approach the Judiciary for a judicial interpretation of the law guiding JAAC rather than taking the law into their own hands.

Kwara: Ahmed Administration Open to Constructive Criticism – Aide

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The Abdulfatah Ahmed’s administration in Kwara State has restated its openness to constructive criticism and inclusiveness in line with the tenets of democracy and provisions of the law.

 

In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the State Governor, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, the administration stated that such criticisms by individuals and groups must, however, be based on facts and should not injure the reputation of individuals and organizations.

 

According to the statement, the State government believes in the rule of law and will not harass any individual or group that criticizes it within the ambit of the law.

 

While emphasizing that this position is not partisan, the administration stressed that individuals and organizations that feel injured by public statements by any individual or group have a right to seek redress under the law.

 

It also noted that while the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of expression, the same law frowns at incitement, libel and other actions capable of injuring the reputation of others or misleading the public.

 

Additionally, the statement noted that any individual or groups that circulate unverified information or preposterous claims may be invited by the appropriate security agencies to verify such claims.

 

The administration said it will continue to encourage dialogue and feedback from the people, adding that it is on record that the Governor Ahmed’s administration has pursued the policy of openness and transparency since its inception and remains committed to these values.

News Of Death Of 1,005 Kwara Pensioners Is False And Misleading – APC

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The All Progressives Congress in Kwara State has said media reports that claimed 1,005 pensioners died in Kwara State is false and misleading.

In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Sulyman Buhari, the party advised journalists to demand verifiable and credible documents from interviewees when interviewees make wide and false claims.

As a government and party, we are always in close interaction with the leadership of labour unions in Kwara State. There is no such record that 1,005 pensioners died since April 2015 as a result of unpaid pension allowances. The report is utterly false and misleading.

The entire public should also note that the Kwara State Government is up to date with payment of salaries and entitlements to State workers and pensioners.

Between the period of April 2015 and August 2016, some workers who were not owed a dime had died. Would it have been right to link the circumstances of their deaths to issues pertaining to salaries?

As a party, we are aware that the local government administrations are struggling to meet financial obligations especially to some pensioners but it doesn’t warrant such falsehood as being promoted by some pensioners.

We wish to assure the pensioners that the Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed is working with chairmen of local councils to resolve the issues relating to entitlements of retirees.

Ahmed The ‘Clock Boy’ Seeking $15 Million In Damages

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Two months after “clock boy” Ahmed Mohamed made international headlines, new details of his controversial arrest emerged Monday in a letter his attorney has sent to school and city officials in Irving, Texas.
As many as seven adults teamed up to interrogate the 14-year-old boy after a teacher mistook his homemade clock for a bomb and pressured him to sign a confession, according to the “letter of demand” from his lawyer warning of plans to file a $15 million suit.

Ahmed’s September arrest, deemed an overreaction by many observers, drew waves of sympathy and extensive news coverage; President Obama invited him to join several other science-inclined students at the White House’s “Astronomy Night” last month.

But his family, which shortly thereafter took up a benefactor’s offer to relocate to Qatar, argued in the letter that the boy’s reputation has been “permanently scarred.” They are seeking not only financial reparations but written apologies from the city’s mayor and police chief.

“Everyone in the country and around the world believes this has been a wonderful experience for Ahmed’s family, and in some ways, it has been,” said Anthony Bond, a family friend. “But now they are settled in Qatar, they have realized they are tremendously traumatized.”

The letters elaborate on the timeline of the arrest, which set the Internet into a frenzy and changed a 14-year-old boy’s life forever.

The letter of demand alleges that officials at Ahmed’s school never really thought that his homemade clock, assembled from “spare parts and scrap pieces he had around the house,” was a bomb. Attorneys claim that Ahmed showed it to another teacher earlier in the day without consequence. But in his English class, a teacher told him it “looked like” a bomb.

An Irving School District spokeswoman said the district received the letter of demand this morning and that its own lawyers would “respond as appropriate, as with any legal matter,” but otherwise offered no comment.

Attorneys blame the school district and the city for “stoking the flames” and placing blame on Ahmed even after it was decided he would not be criminally charged and his “suspicious-looking item” was not a threat.

The family is demanding an apology from Van Duyne and others involved because they would like to return to Irving, attorney Kelly Hollingsworth said.

“Qatar is nice, but it is not Texas. That is their attitude toward this,” Hollingsworth said. “They are citizens of Irving, Texas, USA, first. Are they devout people devoted to their faith? Absolutely. But they are Texans, too, and they want to come home. What we are seeking is for them to be able to do that with their heads held high.”

“The generosity and support Ahmed has received has been very much appreciated, but what the system has to do is try to find a way to redress him,” Hollingsworth said. “What’s the effect of this young man having his reputation in the global community scarred for the rest of his life?”

Source: Washington Post

US ‘Clock Boy’ Ahmed Mohamed To Move To Qatar

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Texas teenager Ahmed Mohamed, who was arrested after bringing a homemade clock to school on suspicion that it was a bomb has accepted a scholarship from the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, where he will study.

After being detained over the clock, Ahmed’s case went viral on social media.
Some alleged he was unfairly treated because of his name and religious background. Officials in Irving Texas defended their decision, saying they were only concerned with the safety of students.

The Qatar Foundation is providing a full scholarship for his secondary and undergraduate education, according to a news release.

“Our family has been overwhelmed by the many offers of support we have received since the unfortunate incident of Ahmed’s arrest,” the Mohamed family said in the release. “From the White House to Sudan, to Mecca, we have been welcomed by a variety of individuals, businesses and educational institutions.”

According to his family, Ahmed will be enrolled in the Qatar Foundation’s “Young Innovators” program and his whole family will relocate with him to Qatar.

“Qatar was a cool place to visit. I loved the city of Doha because it’s so modern. I saw so many amazing schools there, many of them campuses of famous American universities,” said Ahmed in the news release. “The teachers were great. I think I will learn a lot and have fun too.”‘

He met US President Barack Obama at the White House on Monday.

In addition to being invited to the White House, Ahmed received an outpouring of support from scientists, politicians and celebrities including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

So far Ahmed has met: Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, National Geographic Society CEO Gary Knel, Queen Rania of Jordan, Mashable CEO Pete Cashmore and US President Obama.

The ‘Clock Boy’, Ahmed Mohammed Meets President Obama

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Ahmed Mohamed, who came to be known as the “Clock Boy” after he was arrested at his high school in September when a teacher mistook his homemade clock for a bomb, met President Obama on Monday night October 19th during the White House’s “Astronomy Night” celebration. Obama had extended an invitation to the 14-year-old in September. See more photos below…

Ahmed posed for pictures with NASA astronaut Alvin Drew shortly before Obama addressed some American science students who were at the white house for Astronomy Night, a night honoring science, space exploration and youthful endeavors.

 Photo credit: Getty Images/Reuters

Governor Ahmed Charges Military On Politics

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Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has charged the military to insulate itself from political manipulation and resist temptation to descend into the political arena as this could truncate the country’s nascent democracy.

He gave the advice when participants of course 23 of the National Defence College, Abuja on Geo-Strategic Study tour of Kwara State paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Ilorin.

“Let me commend the Nigerian military for its appreciable role in nation building, especially by protecting Nigeria from external aggression and internal unrest.

“While it is true that the country is going through very difficult times, especially in parts of the country caught in the grip of insurgency, the military must continue to live up to its reputation as one of Africa’s best”, he said.

The Governor added that it was incumbent on all Nigerians to support the officers and men of the armed forces for keeping the country and its people safe.