The Vice President of the Horse Racing Federation of Nigeria (South East), HRH Eze Abdulfatah Chimaeze Emetumah III, has urged Nigerians to join hands with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to actualise his dreams to uplift the lives of the people.
He told Tribune in Owerri on Friday, shortly after his arrival from Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III International Race Course, Bida, Niger State, the venue for the 2025 ‘Hope Renewed’ series.
According to him, the introduction of the horse racing competition, code-named ‘Renewed Hope’ since 2023, is to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s developmental strides amidst his strive to promote peace, unity, and progress among Nigerians.
The traditional ruler of the Umuofor Ancient Kingdom in Oguta LGA of Imo State said that the essence of establishing horse racing in Nigeria is to enhance unity and brotherhood among Nigerians since sports have no ethnic or religious inclinations.
He said, “Nigeria is our only country, and there is a need for us to build it to be able to carry on socially, politically, and economically irrespective of our religious and ethnic affiliations.”
The Monarch, who is also a member of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria and the Forum of Kings in Africa, commended Mr President for the achievements he has recorded so far, especially with regard to actualising local government autonomy where statutory allocations from federation accounts go straight to them.
Emetumah recalled that in order to achieve the LGA autonomy, the President approached the Supreme Court where the issue was finally adjudicated upon: a feat which his predecessors could not achieve.
He said, “As a human being, Mr President may not be perfect, and therefore called on his critics to commend him in the areas he has performed well and offer their advice on how to make Nigeria better, and that is the essence of constructive criticism.”
While wishing Mr President and his entire family, his cabinet, and appointees good health, Eze Emetumah commended the leadership role of the life president of the Horse Racing Federation of Nigeria, His Royal Highness, Alh. Dr. Yahaya Abubakar CFR, Etsu Nupe, a patriotic and extraordinary monarch, for always being supportive and committed towards the development of peace and unity among Nigerians through the establishment of the Horse Racing Competition that gave birth to the Horse Racing Federation of Nigeria.
He urged the beneficiaries to make use of their various prizes diligently in order to motivate others to participate.
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