….. Thanks organizers for the invitation

By Olaoluwa Aro

As the yearly Unity Preseason Tournament takes center stage in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja this coming weekend, Mahanaim FC Captain John Light Maduabuchi, has reacted confidently to the grouping, especially group D, where his team would be facing Wikki Tourist, Doma United- one of the newly promoted teams to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), and Abuja based Nigeria National League (NNL) sides, EFCC.

Being one of the emerging non league football teams in the North central, Mahanaim FC have continued to distinguished themselves at any major events amongst their pairs in the Abuja circuit, since the Club was established.

John Light Maduabuchi, who was obviously elated with the Draws express optimism but didn’t downplay the battle ahead, as Mahanaim prepares for the Unity Cup.

” Football is a game of equal number of players on the Field. Playing Wikki Tourist, Doma United and EFCC of Abuja is a challenge that would be surmounted before our first game, and when the event kicks start on 22nd of this month, which is this coming weekend.

Reacting to questions on if participating for the first time in Unity Preseason Tourney would affect his team’s progress during the Competition, John Light, who is equally dubbed as ‘Lightinho’ appreciate the Organizers for extending one of the invites to Mahanaim FC.

“We are new in the tournament but not a new team on the field of play.

“I have received several overwhelming calls from our fans, football lovers within FCT and beyond regarding the pairing with these top teams and I have consistently maintained strongly that, we are equal to the tasks.

“Of a Truth, Wikki Tourist is a major factor but not a Fear factor and as for DOMA United, their promotion to NPFL showed how formidable they are amongst other NNL sides.

“EFCC of Abuja is a Familiar foe and we wouldn’t disregard any of our opponents but we shall show the world what Mahanaim FC is capable of professionally, in the competition, he said.

The captain took time out to show appreciation to the organisers during the interview ahead of the commencement of the pre-season.

“As a team that loves showing gratitude, we are thanking the Brains behind the Unity Preseason Tourney, led by Veteran Journalist and certified Coach, Mr Patrick Ngwaogu, alongside the two other- Men with letters, otherwise known as Pen- pushers for the opportunity given to Mahanaim to be part of this year’s event, which is also the second edition as well.

“We promise to be professional, responsible in our usual courteous manner, as we are not taking this Golden chance for granted because we were not given gratuitously,” Light concluded with utmost assurance

The unity preseason competition is basically for the purpose of preparing Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) teams, before the new season, which is definitely going to help continental representatives as well.

Historically, Former NPFL champions, Plateau United defeated Nasarawa United by lone goal to hoist the maiden edition of the Unity Preseason Tourney on the 5th of November, 2021.

• How KHIMS engaged by Saraki in 2009 left liabilities running into N469m, went away unchallenged

• Turnaround imminent as competitive bidding process on by current mgt to appoint new investor

The new management of Harmony Holdings Limited (HHL) under Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mallam Abdullahi Abdulmajeed has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the mindless and unchallenged mismanagement of Kwara Hotels, one of its subsidiary companies by KH Integrated Management Services (KHMIS) and its alter ego — Dr Bolanle Austen-Peters.

KHIMS was engaged by the Kwara State Government in 2009 under the reign of Dr Bukola Saraki in a lease arrangement expected to last for 15 years with the agreement that it would turn Kwara Hotels to a four-star hotel of international repute.

In 2012 under the administration of Dr AbdulFatah Ahmed, Harmony Holdings took over the supervision of Kwara Hotels and a couple of other state-owned businesses.

When Harmony Holdings came on board at the time, it discovered a mindless mismanagement and maladministration of Kwara Hotels by KHMIS coupled with the violation of virtually all the items contained in the Lease Agreement.

For instance, KHMIS had contrary to its covenant to invest the sum of $2,271,300 of its own fund to upgrade Kwara Hotels, borrowed the sum of N350,000,000.00 from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and used income generated from its management of Kwara Hotels to defray the loan.

It also failed to complete the renovation of the hotel within 10 months as contained in the Lease Agreement, while avoiding the payment of 4% net profit and 1% gross revenue to Kwara State Government as rent, among other mind-boggling infractions.

These breaches, general mismanagement, staff and customer dissatisfaction made Harmony Holdings Limited to terminate the Lease Agreement between Kwara State Government and KHMIS in October 2016, which at the time left huge liabilities, backlog of unpaid gratuities, pensions, PAYEE among other obligations to the tune of N468,772,861.00.

Nevertheless, KHMIS went away with these infractions and atrocities unchallenged by the previous administration, thereby leaving a huge deficit on the state treasury since some of these obligations, especially the ones that relate with the staff had to be met following public outcry.

The GMD/CEO expressed confidence in the EFCC, while appreciating the anti-corruption institution for its great job in facilitating the return of looted funds, assets belonging to Kwara State.

In another development, the current management of Harmony Holdings has announced that plans are underway to overhaul and redevelop Kwara Hotels into a standard state of the art four star hotel deserving of its status as one of Kwara State-owned iconic heritage.

In line with the mandate of His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the commencement of competitive process to source for a competent management company with the requisite capacity to upgrade the facility and manage it professionally, request for expression of interest had since been advertised on various media platforms, and submissions by interested investors are undergoing due diligence and critical scrutiny by professional transaction advisors so that the best hand could be recruited for the imperative turnaround management and upgrade process.

This current process is following the extant provisions of due process considerations as against the process that gifted the asset to KHMIS which was shrouded in secrecy and without any competitive bidding process.

The current managenent of Harmony Holdings therefore wishes to assure members of the public, particularly Kwarans that the process for the rejuvenation of Kwara Hotels is ongoing and they can be assured that our Kwara Hotel of pride would emerge from this process bigger, stronger and better, just as those responsible for its moribund status would account for it in no time.

#Its the break of a new dawn in Harmony Holdings.

#Harmony Holdings; a new beginning.

Corporate Affairs Unit
Harmony Holdings Limited
December 9, 2020