Author: 1212 Polo and Turf

The first horseracing derby to ever hold in the history of the Federal Capital Territory – Abuja, is billed to hold at the state of the art recreational and equestrian centre, the 1212 Polo & Turf Resort situated at the heart of Abuja, Ahmadu Bello Way, Gwarinpa.

Horseracing at 1212 Polo & Turf is planned to be an annual event, this maiden edition will see horses from Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Sudan, hotly competing for the following Cups on the Sultan Sir Abubakar III racecourse;

President’s Cup

Speaker’s Cup

Independence Cup

Sir Abubakar III Cup

Abuja Derby Cup

At the Race Meeting, the 19th Emir of Zazzau’s Cup will also be officially unveiled to the General public.

This maiden racing event promises other thrills and excitement that 1212 Polo & Turf is famous for. There will be side attractions such as arts and cultural exhibitions, and others.

At the foot of the Gwarinpa Hills, 1212 Polo & Turf has played host to a series of international equestrian activities including the International Armed Forces Polo Tournament in 2018 where 7 nations were represented by the polo teams of their armed forces.

All planning and preparations were set in motion to hold the horseracing from the 2nd to the 5th of April, 2021, but due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases and its consequent restrictions, the event has been shifted to a later date. As the management of 1212 Polo & Turf promises a bigger and even better event than initially planned, a new date will be announced in liaison with relevant stakeholders which includes the government, partners, sponsors, and the traditional institution.

Signed,
Mgt.

The family of the late Chairman of LEADERSHIP Group Limited, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah has released the 

Recall that activities marking the funeral rites of the late Chairman of LEADERSHIP Group Limited, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, had been slightly modified in line with federal government’s imposition of five-week restrictions on activities involving large gathering.

The Service of Songs earlier scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre on Sunday 27, December 2020, by 3PM Nigerian time will now be a virtual event which members of the public can join by clicking on this

This year, 2020 will go down in history as the year I wrote the most
tributes-some long, some short to eulogize the departed, not to glorify
the living. I am penning one more today on the death of Sam Nda Isaiah,
late Publisher of LEADERSHIP newspapers Group. I pray it will be the
last one this year.

In 2019, I wrote three tributes, two of them to celebrate icons in my
corner of the world (Media) who turned 60. First, it was Prince Nduka
Obaigbena, Publisher of ThisDay in July and Garba Shehu, Presidential
A spokesman in November of that year. And there was a dirge for my
sister, Safiya who died in August. Though younger, she fretted like a
mother.

This year has been a downpour. Death just sauntered into my world and
casually took away family, friends, mentors and colleagues. It’s cold
hands snuffed the lives of such media greats as Abba Kyari, Isma’ila Isa
Funtua and Wada Maida. It took away Musa Ahmad Tijjani editor of the
Triumph, Waheed Bakare editor of New Telegraph on Saturday, my
stepfather too, an infinitely generous man, exited and so many others
like Professors Abdulhameed Isa Dutse, Balarabe Maikaba and Alhaji
Aliyu Iliasu Kakumi, former Managing Director of Peugeot Automobile
Nigeria (PAN). The count is endless.

Sam’s death is surreal. I am still reeling in shock that Sam is gone-
forever. Sam? Gone? Just like that? How? What happened? An accident?
These were the volleys of questions racing through my mind when news
filtered in the wee hours of penultimate Saturday, that the late Kakakin
Nupe had answered the call all mortals are waiting for their turn.
Most people knew Sam as “Publisher” or “Chairman” or ‘Kakakin Nupe.
He was all of these and more. I, however, knew him just as “Sam the
Maverick”. He was a non-conformist till the end.

Sam bubbled with ideas. Big ideas. Grand ideas always hovered in his
mind. Some of his ideas were downright wacky. Listening to him talking
about them was both nourishing and scaring. I used to marvel how he
was going to actualize his ideas. One such idea he had in mind was that
he would appoint a Human Rights Lawyer to head the Nigerian Police if
he became President. He argued combatively that it was the only way to

reform the police institution. I can’t tell if Sam somehow managed to sell
the idea of having Hameed Ali, a retired soldier, with a reputation of
rigidity and uprightness, head the Nigerian Customs to the President
Muhammadu Buhari.

Sam loved a challenge. No odds deterred him. He wagered with a self-
assured confidence where others dawdled. When others shied away from for
bread or personal safety, Sam bulldozed his way headlong with scant
regard to either and strangely triumphed. He normally came ‘alive’ at
the sight of a challenge. In fact, he used to love a ‘dare’.

In my years of association with him, I have not witnessed a day he
backed down from a ‘dare’ or a challenge. Sam took on everyone and
everything fearlessly. He threw punches but he had a glass jaw.

He oscillated between extremes. One remarkable attribute of the late
publisher was his spontaneity and tenacity. He rarely hid his emotion.

He had a short fuse and flew off the handle easily but also forgot easily
like a child. One moment he was spitting fire and brimstone, the next
moment, he was his jocular self. He had an unusual sense of humour.

Most of the ‘Ghana- Must –Go’, the acerbic back page cartoon, Sam
authored the one-liners when I was editor of his paper a decade ago.

Late Sam was fascinated by ThisDay and its publisher Prince Nduka
Obaigbena. He never hid his admiration for the paper and the
man. Having worked for both men, they share striking similarities. One
day Sam told me that he sought Obaigbena’s advise as he was shopping
for a Managing Director for LEADERSHIP. Nduka told him to elevate me since I
was the editor. Sam said, “Your Publisher said I should make you MD
when I asked him.” I knew who he was referring to. I am fond of
Obaigbena.Never seen a man like him. Obaigbena’s argument was that

it was better to grow leadership from within than recruit from outside.
I wasn’t keen.

Sam had a weird sense of loyalty to his friends. He would readily swim the
sea to help a friend. He never forgot those who helped him either. I
discovered by accident that he had listed, for occasional material
intervention to widows of friends and their kids. He did a lot of charity
away from public glare. He was a man of faith without the outward
display of religiosity.

Some described late Sam as a ‘’serial entrepreneur”. That is the nearest
in capturing the late polyglot, ‘multitasker’, risk-taker and trailblazer.

He wanted to have his finger in every pie if it would create jobs and
generate profits. He was a man driven by passion and, clearly, on a
mission.

Beyond publishing, other enterprises late Sam interests included
high end catering and 'restauranting' He was also a hotelier at some
the point, educator.

In 2009, he birthed the high-end restaurant “Banana Republic” nestled in
a strategic location in Asokoro. The cuisine was continental, the name
itself “Banana Republic” was deliberate. It was Sam’s satiric message to
Nigeria’s rulers of the time.

Expectedly, the eatery attracted the right kind of clientele. Shakers and
movers. Politicians of all hue graced the grand opening. Policymakers,
technocrats, retired and serving military top brass frequented the place.

Among the inner social circle of late Kakakin Nupe that routinely
hanged out at the Banana Republic were Ahmed Kuru, Nuhu Sani Zango,
and Fidelis Anosike owner of Daily Times. All these gentlemen were
next-door neighbours to late Sam.

I recall how Nuhu Zango used to ferry late Abba Kyari from his hotel to
meet up with Sam anytime he was in town. Most times, late Kyari would
spend his day in Leadership newspaper’s corporate office before
retiring to his hotel and occasionally parleyed with Sam and company in
the cosy confines of Banana Republic. Till late in the night.

There were also the likes of Hon. Habu Bawa Bwari. The Banana Republic
played hosts to top-flight captains of industry, diplomats etc. I actually
got to know Shehu Malami, Sarkin Sudan Wurno who used to frequent
the restaurant to have a quiet dinner, there.

Sam started Leadership Newspapers with very little. Only a man with
his guts will attempt to drill a borehole with a needle. That was exactly
what Sam did and hit gold. Editorially, he had honed his excellent
writing skills as the publisher of Leadership Confidential, a subscription-only newspaper. It was very rich with stories hardly reported. Even
then, Sam had vast contacts. Everybody knew him. I once reviewed the
paper in ThisDay on Saturday when Simon Kolawole was the editor
sometime in 2002 or 2003.

An ecstatic Sam was effusive with appreciation.
The seed money for Leadership newspapers was sourced in the main,
from proceeds of his book launch “Nigeria: A full Disclosure”, an
anthology of his Monday back page column in the Daily Trust in late
2003. Newly sworn-in Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano state chaired
the occasion. Professor Auwalu Yadudu reviewed the book. One of Sam’s
friends, Muftahu Baba Ahmed read a moving tribute that had Sam
guffawing. He accurately depicted Sam’s character including his
mannerisms at the dining table.

Leadership newspapers had a component education arm called Allan
Woods. Before he passed on he had acquired a license to run a ‘School of
governance and legislative Studies” in Abuja patterned after a Chandler
Institute of Governance in Singapore. It “runs training programs, research
projects and advisory work to enable government and city leaders to better
serve their citizens”.

Leadership newspapers hit the newsstands on 1st February 2004 as a
weekly. Two years later, the Daily followed suit at the height of the 3rd
term bid of former President, Chief Obasanjo. Leadership newspaper
was beating the competition in breaking stories especially those on
politics. It ran expose’ after expose’ of the tenure elongation plots of the
time. It will reveal the venue of such plots, those in attendance and who said
what. And of course, there were other writers on the back page apart from
Sam like Sani Zorro and Dr Aliyu Tilde.

I can’t remember exactly when our paths crossed but it must have been
around the mid-90s. I was then Editor of the Sunday Triumph in Kano.

In the build-up to the 2003 election, Sam headed the media Directorate
of candidate Buhari of the All Nigerian People Party(ANPP). That was
when I and Sam became really close. I was then the Regional
Editor(NORTH) of ThisDay resident in Kaduna.

With a shoestring budget, late Sam miraculously matched the well-
funded Obasanjo/Atiku campaign organization wit for wit, often out
witting them. Suleman Adamu would occasionally assist him and Dr
Aliyu Tilde who was heading another strategic department in The
Buhari Organization(TBO)Sule Yahaya Hamma was the Director
–General. There was also Abba Kyari who was oscillating between
directorates.

I tried severally, without luck, to interview General Buhari when he
forays into the political grazing field in 2002. One day I “laid’ an ambush
for the “elusive’ Buhari in kano at the residence of late AVM Muktar
Mohammed,ANPP state chairman Kabiru Muhammad Gwangwazo led
me there. Soon Buhari arrived. There was a hurried introduction and
and in  excitement, I said “Sir, I laid this ‘ambush’ to have an interview”

to which he retorted “you can’t ambush a General, I am not granting any
interviews” and his long limbs literally sprinted away.

Undeterred, I remembered Sam after I returned to Lagos. “Can you come
tomorrow by 9 am?’’ Sam called back barely an hour later.

Without a thought I said yes. I hopped into a night bus arrived Abuja in
the morning and took off in Sunny Agheaze’s Mercedes Benz 200 along
with Bature Umar Masari. I managed to have a shower in the Jabi
regional office of ThisDay. In Kaduna, late Josephine Lohor joined us. We
arrived Buhari’s residence exactly 9.01am and he was waiting!

It was incredible! It was like a miracle. Buhari glared at Sam and
muttered that he(Sam) gatecrashed his programme. It was clear he was
fond of him as he repeatedly referred to him as “Dan Nda’
Following the Miss World riots of 2002,I was moved to Kaduna and
found myself regularly interacting with elements in TBO and Buhari
himself. I had one of a kind long interview that the late Chuba Okadigbo
turned into a booklet. It was published in the Saturday edition of
ThisDay on February 1 st ,2003. It marked a turning point.
Sam found a way of rebranding Buhari. Only recently Sam said that the
story of the 2003 Buhari campaign must be told and I agreed with him
but alas nobody could tell that story better than him and he is gone!

Fare thee well Sam!
Ali M.Ali writes from 2nd Avenue Gwarimpa, Abuja.

The global reputation of the exclusive 12-12 Polo & Country Club is set to add another milestone, with the hosting of the 2018 World Military Polo Tournament billed to gallop off with fanfare from January 9, 2018, in the Nigerian capital city of Abuja.

The international championship which is being hosted by Nigeria for the second time since the 2006 inauguration in Kaduna, will feature teams from military superpowers like the United States of America (USA), Pakistan, India, Morocco, South Africa, and host Nigeria.

Polo Royals authoritatively gathered that the foremost 12-12 Turf & Country Club was picked to host the entire tournament matches of the global event, while the Guards Polo Club Ground has been reserved as a standby venue and as a training facility for the participating teams.

Organized and hosted by the Nigerian Armed Forces high Command and supported by the Presidency, the world military polo showdown is staged as apart of collaborations to further strengthen those ongoing cordial military relationships with the participating countries.

The international polo fiesta is also packaged as part of the event’s line-up to mark the 2018 Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration.

Already, the Nigerian team that would fly the nation’s flag has been picked with Col. Kapeh Kazir as the Captain. Barring last-minute changes, other members of the team would include Col Y. Bello, Lado Aliyu, Edozie Ownuli, Malik Badamasi, and Murktar Adahama.

Chairman of the Publicity Committee, General Yerima stated said it will be an exciting tournament with all participating countries fielding their best hands in what would undoubtedly be an historic event.

“We are indeed grateful to the Federal Government, the Nigerian Army, particularly, Military of defense, the Chief of Army Staff, and all our partners for their immense support for this international project that is guaranteed to change the face of polo in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large,” Yerima added.

First of its kind in the nation’s capital, 12-12 Polo & Turf was borne out of a desire to bring the beautiful game of Polo and the exhilaration of horse riding to thrill equestrian enthusiasts in the booming metropolis of the FCT, and aims to be the benchmark in Polo and Turf sports in the country.

Founded as a tribute to the establishment of Abuja as a capital city on 12th December 1991, the club took its name from the founding date.

The President of 12-12 Polo and Turf Club, Nuhu Sani, has no doubt cut a niche for himself in sports promotion in Nigeria having nurtured one of the most sophisticated and arguably the best equestrian sports facility from the scratch to its gangling and enviable status and in the process provided job opportunities and entertainment to many Nigerians. The facility which encompasses horse racing and polo events has witnessed remarkable milestones in its 7- years of existence. ANDREW ESSIEN reports.

Can we have an insight into the activities of 12-12 polo and turf club?

12-12 Polo and Turf Club is a world-class facility for Polo, Horseracing, and other equestrian sports. The club derived its name from the day and month Abuja was officially inaugurated as the Federal Capital Territory; December 12, 1991. This gesture is a tribute to Abuja, Nigeria’s political and administrative center, and a symbol of Nigeria’s unity in cultural diversity. Incidentally, the club was commissioned on a unique date that depicts the club’s power, class, and grandeur; December 12, 2012 (12-12-12), and it was commissioned by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

Despite his tight schedule, General Babangida graced your invitation to commission this project, is there any special relationship?

I grew up with my grandmother Hajiya Yaya Hassana Umaru. My grandmother was among the first few Northern women who were lucky to acquire western education and that opened her to many opportunities. While working at Northern Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Kaduna, She met Ibrahim Babangida who was then a captain in the Nigerian Army. They met through two of her younger brothers; the late Kere Ahmed and retired DIG Nuhu Aliyu, and by extension, he also became like a younger brother to her as well. Being the loving and caring person that she is, she became a sister to a host of them and their friends, professional associates, and/or schoolmates in the likes of Mohammadu Magoro, late Gado Nasko, late Brigadier Umar Mohammed, late Brigadier Ibrahim Bako, Harris Igaga, Martin Adamu, late Major Bello Ndayako, Col. Sani Bello, late Sen. Idris Ibrahim Kuta, late Abdullahi Adamu, and Usman Farouk, just to mention but a few.

The sisterly relationship she had with all of them formed the bedrock of the relationship I had (still do) with them, so I would say, I have known General Babangida virtually all my life and our relationship has always been cordial. In fact, it may interest you to know that when I started this project, I went to seek his wise counsel and he gave the club this name Twelve-Twelve Polo and Turf Club. You will agree with me that it is a name that stands the club out from many other household names.

Your Grandmother must be an influential personality…

I totally agree. When she attended St. Bartholomew in Wusasa, Zaria, she was in school then with a host of families like the Gowons and the Kishnas, and people like the late Prof. Ishaya Audu, George Bako, Azumi Beki, Prof. Adamu Beki, late James Audu, Hauwa Dikko and many others too numerous to mention. She worked her way up from being a telephone operator at NBC to a presenter who worked both with local and international radio stations. She has also authored a number of books; some of which were reviewed by the Late Mallam Aminu Kano. So I would say her influence was even more as a foundational beacon of hope for the girl child education in Northern Nigeria. Her influence transcended even to the home front particularly as the wife of Alh. Samaila Gwarzo who was a Police officer, one time Minister of Police Affairs under President Ibrahim Babangida, and the National Security Adviser during Late Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime.

In your assessment, how do you think 12-12 Polo and Turf Club stand out from other club’s in Nigeria?

Twelve-Twelve Polo and Turf Club is a Nigerian project that promotes the country to the rest of the world, through Polo, Horseracing, and other equestrian activities. What we do here, is primarily to project Nigeria’s image to the rest of the world, and what better way to do so than to merge our love for our country, with the passion we have for equestrian sports?

The club is uniquely situated at the heart of the Federal Capital Territory and at the foot of the Gwarinpa Hills, thereby earning it the reputation of having the most exquisite landmark of the city of Abuja.

12-12’s strategic location gives it a 180 degrees panoramic view of the entire city of Abuja and that breathtaking sight has attracted tourists and the likes to our facility. Although we are just at the first out of four phases, we pride ourselves on a world-class facility for equestrian sports.

How do you mean by first out of four phases?

The 12-12 Polo and Turf project is a long term project that has been divided into four (4) phases. We have so far achieved about 90% of the first phase. I like to reiterate that it has always been more of a thing of passion, for Nigeria and equestrian sports than about money. Our plan is to build a world standard equestrian center and a lasting legacy that will outlive all of us that started it. In fact, as I speak, there are some who began this journey with us that are no more but the spirit and determination they have put to seeing this dream come to fruition still lives with us.

The first phase comprises of 100 horse-capacity Stables; Superbly maintained Paddocks for grazing and walking the horses; Standard 10 furlong Sultan Sir Abubakar III Horseracing Track; The state of the art Sir Usman Nagoggo Polo Field; the 12-12 History Hall and Yaya Hassana VIP Stand; Late Sen. Idris Ibrahim Kuta Stand and the RJ Jose Stand. Our Riding Schools (one medium and one standard riding schools) are designed to cater to horse enthusiasts ranging from a minimum age of 5. More than horse riding, our curriculum includes teaching the students discipline, principles of leadership, and patriotism.

The Club House is a testimony to a brilliant architecture with two terraces providing an unobstructed view of the Polo field and the entire city of Abuja and they serve as a restaurant and bar respectively. The parking lot has the capacity to accommodate over 250 cars. The wide parking space is provided to encourage people to park their cars and take long walks around our facility and bask in the beauty of nature.

The second phase of our project shall include a hotel, resort apartments, staff quarters, an equestrian center, a second Polo field for practice, and extension of the stables, a swimming pool for Horse training, and a track around the hill for endurance training for the horses.

Summarily, down to the fourth phase, this facility shall be an International Polo and Horseracing resort that shall rival the best of such facilities in the world.

Is this standard peculiar to 12-12 Polo and Turf Club or it is a general thing in Nigeria?

It is not only a Nigerian thing but global. It has taken the UK and Argentina almost a century to establish themselves as the homes of Polo in the world, Dubai for some years now have been working hard at dominating the world of Horseracing. So I feel even by global standards, the fact that 12-12 Polo and Turf Club is combining Polo, Horseracing, and other equestrian sports, is no small feat that would require so much investment in time, energy, and resources.  Coming to Nigeria, take Fifth Chukker in Kaduna for instance, it has been running for about 16 to 17 years yet if you go there, you will find several projects springing up to match the fast-changing trend of architecture and equestrian sports. I think when it comes to perfection in equestrian sports, it is safe to describe it as a never-ending journey. Wherever we stop and whatever we are able to achieve, will be continued by another generation that succeeds us. We believe the keywords are determination and continuity; this project serves to encourage younger Nigerians to place passion over immediate gains.

How did the 12-12 Polo and Turf Club idea begin?

My grandmother has always had a very good relationship with the sultanate from the late Sultan Abubakar III, to Late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki and even to this moment. My earliest encounters with horses began when Sultan Abubakar III would take me and some of his grandchildren on a tour around his stables and we would come across a wide variety of horse breeds.

The second significant encounter was in 1980. I came back from school one afternoon and met my grandmother and her brother, late Kere Ahmed (Daddy) who brought a message from the then governor, late Shehu Kangiwa, for my grandmother. The governor wanted to know when he could come to visit her but out of respect, she opted to go and visit him at the government house instead. I gladly accompanied her and her brother Kere Ahmed, when she offered. On reaching the government house, Aunty Hannatu (Gov. Shehu Kangiwa’s wife) directed us to the back where we met Shehu Kangiwa attending to horses in his stables. As they exchanged pleasantries with my grandmother, he noticed how transfixed I was to the horses at the stables and he asked if I would like to own a horse. I excitedly nodded and that was how I got a gift of my first horse.

At first, my grandmother objected to this gift considering the pressure it would put on her to take care of the horse for me but Shehu Kangiwa insisted and she succumbed when he offered for the horse to remain in his stables where it would be taken care of and I was free to visit at any time I wanted to ride it.

My passion for horses was further established when late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki gave me my second horse in 1983. Interestingly, this is a wonderful gesture that has even transcended to his son Mallam Ahmed Dasuki who recently donated two thoroughbred horses to our riding school. So I would say my love for horses began quite early in life but the idea for 12-12 Polo and Turf Club was conceived due to the need for a ranch/resort for horse riding but the dream kept getting bigger until it took us to this point and even now, the dream keeps getting bigger as we cross some of the hurdles.

Things seem to be falling into pleasant places but was there a point that you felt like quitting?

I think ‘felt like quitting’ is kind of a strong term because I was raised by my grandmother who instilled in me that fear of failure in whatever I do, therefore, I always see challenges as opportunities to triumph rather than just obstacles.

Believe me, the challenges we faced were enormous and we still face a number of them but through them all, if we felt quitting was an option, there would not have been a place called 12-12 Polo and Turf Club today.

Could you enumerate the challenges you faced?

We had a number of sites that were proposed for this project but due to bureaucracy and some other challenges we could not secure those areas. But ultimately and by divine intervention, we secured our present location, which incidentally became more strategic for what we want to achieve than most of the places we lost.

We have faced challenges of bureaucracy with some FCT Ministers who felt that the land should be allocated to residential estates instead because they could not see beyond this dream. You see, there are certain edifices that compliment every great city in the world. A great city has to have hospitals, schools, markets, road networks, a stadium, an orchestra, a museum, parks and recreational areas, and a polo/horseracing resort is pivotal to the composition of such a great city. That is why we have town planners that design how an entire city should be and where everything should be positioned. Unfortunately some of these ministers were too myopic to follow through with such plans and designs.

The President is the chief custodian of the wellbeing of the Federal Capital Territory, and since he delegates that responsibility to the FCT Minister, it becomes incumbent on him to ensure that only people of pedigree, insight and foresight are appointed as FCT ministers and not those with the ‘buy and sell land’ mentality; some of which we have had in the past. There is however a silver lining in the fact that at some points, some of the FCT Ministers made efforts to right some of these wrongs and give Abuja the proper treatment it deserves as the most important city in Africa.

We are thankful that ministers like Mal. Nasir El-Rufai came, saw the importance of a world class facility for polo, horseracing and other equestrian sports in Abuja, and ensured that the land was allocated to us for that purpose.

I held a meeting with the current FCT Minister Mohammed Bello at his office on July 17, 2017. We had several discussions regarding the current state and future of 12-12 Polo and Turf Club. He expressed serious resolution to solving some of our challenges which I have mentioned above. The Minister was pleasantly surprised that we withdrew from one of our lands, Plot1166, measuring about 40 hectres. The plot was encroached by the ministry of works and Housing which compelled us to back out despite having the legal right of the land.

In spite of the challenges we face, it becomes reassuring to have the minister taking vested interest in protecting 12-12 Polo and Turf Club and other areas of similar value within Abuja. I recalled that on August 27, 2016, while addressing a gathering of journalists, the minister said he looks forward to a day in Abuja when the FCT minister would call a director or any public servant, and demand for a certain plot of land for the wrong reason, and the person would have the courage to turn the minister down. A person that would encourage his subordinates to do the right thing even if it means defying him is the kind of person I would love Abuja to be entrusted to.

Are there still challenges now?

Most prominent among the challenges we face today are those of land encroachment, illegal allocation of lands by some government authorities, bush burning, and unauthorized excavation of the Hill.

It is very unfortunate that the Ministry of Works and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) have made themselves the agents of many of the confusion and illegalities that have befallen the Gwarinpa District and several other parts of Abuja. Gen. Sani Abacha had a very formidable and vibrant plan for Gwarinpa which happens to be the largest estate in West Africa but he, and other drivers of that dream would be sorely disappointed in what Ministry of Works and FHA have turned it into. I dare say that Gwarinpa is a disaster waiting to happen because they have made illegal allocations to people who have built on drainages, water and electric pipelines and they have even gone ahead to approve illegal structures that endanger the lives of people on daily basis not to talk of the aesthetic beauty of the area, that they have deprived us of.

For some of us, we are privileged to have the original master plan of Abuja engrained in our heads because some of our parents were part and parcel of the team that designed the original master plan. This makes it easy for us to identify all the places where this beautiful city has been mistreated.

It may interest you to know that in Abuja’s master plan, the entire stretch of the land where 12-12 Polo and Turf Club seats today was supposed to be a green area. You can attest to the beauty and grandeur of our facility because the land was appropriately used. Then, imagine how exquisite it would have been if the land use for the entire area had been strictly adhered to. If you come to 12-12 today, you would find several buildings littered around the area which is in total deviation from the master plan and we owe all that to mismanagement of authority and greed from some of these government officials. For the sake of posterity, I dare anyone who challenges what has been said here, to bring forth the original Gwarinpa Master Plan and compare it to what is on ground; to see how far away we are from the ideal.

Have you enjoyed any support from government, organisations or individuals?

We have received immense support from several personalities and for that we are grateful. From inception till date, we consider ourselves honoured to have hosted three former Presidents and Heads of State, a former Vice President and recently, on July 22, 2017 to be precise, we had the singular privilege of hosting the Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who was impressed with what we have achieved so far and pledged his support to make 12-12 attain its full potential.

Like I have earlier mentioned, we recently had a meeting with the current FCT Minister, and the outcome of the meeting was quite positive because the minister and his team have stepped up to wade in on some of the challenges that we face. Mohammed Bello recently accompanied the Acting President to our Facility on the aforementioned familiarization visit and he commended the progress he saw at the club. The Minister of Transport, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi visited our facility and applauded what we have achieved here so far, and Minister of State Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu had nothing but praise for our resolve on environmental sustainability as well as praises for our well-maintained greenery. We have also been privileged to have the continuous support of the Minister of State for solid minerals, Abubakar Bawa Bwari.

Through the course of our events and engagements, we have hosted and interrelated with Ambassadors and High Commissioners of many countries and so far, they have also shown interest in having a membership/working relationship with us. This hopefully can be translated into an FDI opportunity for Nigeria at large.

As far as corporate organisations go, we have enjoyed the support from the likes of ExxonMobil and Glo Unlimited who have shown their resolve to promote the growth of equestrian sports in Nigeria.

What are your expectations from the government, corporate organisations and individuals?

The government can make enabling policies that can support sports tourism. We all know that football is the most popular sport in the country yet it is not having the maximum support it desires let alone sports like polo and horseracing that are more capital intensive to set up.

Our expectations from private organisations are their support through sponsorship of our tournaments and events so that we have that mutual benefit where we give them proper publicity for their brands, and they help advance equestrian sports in Nigeria.

In the first quarter of 2018, we plan to officially open the club to individual, corporate and diplomatic membership. This creates an opportunity for individuals to be part of this Nigerian Project and make their meaningful contributions.

Earlier you asked how 12-12 Polo and Turf Club stands out from other equestrian clubs, I feel this is one more way that we are unique. No doubt that equestrian sports are cost sensitive, but what we are doing here, is setting up an equestrian center that breaks people away from that elitist perception and have something for every class without infringing on any category’s liberty, privacy and enjoyment.

What has the club achieved so far?

Like I earlier said, this club is what we like to call a Nigerian Project and that is why we are promoting and creating awareness for one cause or the other. For instance, we have organised two International Polo Tournaments in November 2015 and November 2016. While the 2015 tournament created awareness for the conditions of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria and also commemorated the fallen Officers and Soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the 2016 tournament created awareness for the need to prioritise education in Nigeria, especially in the Northeast where school facilities, students and teachers have suffered attacks due to the insurgency. From the few I have mentioned, you would notice that we do not count our milestones only based on the equestrian events that we have successfully held, but what we have contributed to making Nigeria a greater nation.

On a final note, I noticed some dates engraved in stone around the facility. Do they have any historical connotations to this place?

Of course! The dates depict some defining moments through the club’s history; some were pleasant and others were bad experiences we encountered. Since we are having new experiences daily, there will definitely be more of those dates but ultimately, the public will get an insight of what we have gone through in this journey when we publish a tell-all book about 12-12 Polo and Turf Club which God willing, will be done in our 10th anniversary.

The President of 12-12 Polo and Turf Club, Nuhu Sani, speaks on the dream that birthed arguably Africa’s biggest club that encompasses horse racing and polo all in one place. A dream still unfolding 7years after it came to reality.

ANDREW ESSIEN reports. 

1. What is 12-12 Polo and Turf Club?

12-12 Polo and Turf Club is a world-class facility for Polo, Horseracing and other equestrian sports. The club derived its name from the day and month Abuja was officially inaugurated as the Federal Capital Territory; 12^th of December, 1991. This gesture is in tribute to Abuja as Nigeria’s political and administrative center, and a symbol of Nigeria’s unity in cultural diversity. Incidentally, the club was commissioned on a unique date that depicts the club’s power, class, and grandeur; the 12^th of December, 2012 (12-12-12), and it was commissioned by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

2. Despite his tight schedule, General Babangida graced your invitation to commission this Project, is there any special relationship?

I grew up with my grandmother Hajiya Yaya Hassana Umaru and she happens to be among the first few Northern women who were opportune to have Western education and that opened her to many opportunities. While working at Northern Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Kaduna, She met Ibrahim Babangida who was then a Captain in the Nigerian Army. They met through two of her younger brothers Late Kere Ahmed and retired DIG Nuhu Aliyu, and by extension, he also became like a younger brother to her as well. Being the loving and caring person that she is, she became a sister to a host of them and their friends, professional associates, and/or schoolmates in the likes of Mohammadu Magoro, Gado Nasko, Brigadier Umar Mohammed (late), Brigadier Ibrahim Bako (late), Harris Igaga, Martin Adamu (Late), Major Bello Ndayako (late), Col. Sani Bello, Sen. Idris Ibrahim Kuta (late), Abdullahi Adamu (Late), Usman Farouk, just to mention but a few.

This sisterly relationship she had with all of them formed the bedrock of the relationship I had (still do) with them, so I would say I have known General Babangida for virtually all my life and our relationship has always been cordial. In fact, it may interest you to know that when I started this project, I went to seek his wise counsel and he gave the club its name Twelve-Twelve Polo and Turf Club. You will agree with me that it is a name that stands the club out from many other household names.

3. Your Grandmother must be an influential personality…

I totally agree. When she attended St. Bartholomew in Usasa, Zaria, she was in school then with a host of families like the Gowons and the Kishnas, and people like Prof. Ishaya Audu (late), George Bako, Azumi Beki, Prof. Adamu Beki, late James Audu, Hauwa Dikko, and many others too numerous to mention. She worked her way up from being a Telephone Operator at NBC to eventually becoming a presenter who worked both with local and with international radio stations. She has also authored a number of books; some of which were reviewed by Late Mallam Aminu Kano. So I would say her influence was even more as a foundational beacon of hope for the girl child education in Northern Nigeria.

Her influence transcended even to the home front, particularly as the wife of Alh. Samaila Gwarzo who was a Police Officer, one-time Minister of Police Affairs under President Ibrahim Babangida, and the National Security Adviser during Late Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime.

4. In your assessment, how do you think 12-12 Polo and Turf Club stand out from other clubs in Nigeria?

Twelve-Twelve Polo and Turf Club is a Nigerian project that promotes the country to the rest of the world, through Polo, Horseracing, and other equestrian activities. Whatever we do here, is primarily to project Nigeria’s image to the rest of the world and what better way to do so than to merge our love for our country, with the passion we have for equestrian sports?

The club is uniquely situated at the heart of the Federal Capital Territory and at the Foot of the Gwarinpa Hills, thereby earning it the reputation of one of the exquisite landmarks of the city of Abuja.

12-12’s strategic location gives it a 180 degrees panoramic view of the entire city of Abuja and that breathtaking sight has attracted tourists and the likes to our facility. Although we are just at the first out of four phases, we pride ourselves on a world-class facility for equestrian sports.

5. What do you mean by the first out of four phases?

The 12-12 Polo and Turf project is a long-term project that has been divided into four (4) phases. What we have done so far, is achieve about 90% of the first phase. I like to reiterate that it has always been more of a thing of passion, for Nigeria and equestrian sports than about money. Our plan is to build a world-standard equestrian center and a lasting legacy that will outlive all of us that started it. In fact, as I speak, there are some who began this journey with us that are no more but the spirit and determination they have put to seeing this dream come to fruition still lives with us.

The First Phase comprises 100­-horse-capacity Stables; Superbly maintained Paddocks for grazing and walking the horses; Standard 10 furlong Sultan Sir Abubakar III Horseracing Track; The state of the art Sir Usman Nagoggo Polo Field; the 12-12 History Hall and Yaya Hassana VIP Stand; Late Sen. Idris Ibrahim Kuta Stand and the RJ Jose Stand. Our Riding Schools (one medium and one standard riding school) are designed to cater to horse enthusiasts ranging from a minimum age of 5. More than horse riding, our curriculum includes teaching the students, discipline, principles of leadership, and patriotism.

The Club House is a testament to brilliant architecture with two Terraces providing unobstructed views of the Polo Field and the entire city of Abuja and they serve as a Restaurant and a Bar respectively. The Parking Lot has the capacity to accommodate over 250 cars. The wide parking space is provided to encourage people to park their cars and take long walks around our facility and bask in the beauty of nature.

The second phase of our project shall include a Hotel, Resort Apartments, Staff Quarters, an Equestrian Center, a second Polo Field for practice, an Addition and extension of the stables, a Swimming Pool for Horse training, and a track round the hill for endurance training for the horses.

Summarily, down to the fourth phase, this facility shall be an International Polo and Horseracing resort that shall rival the best of such facilities in the world.

6. Is this pace peculiar to 12-12 Polo and Turf Club or it is a general thing in Nigeria?

It is not only a Nigerian thing but global. It has taken UK and Argentina almost a century to establish themselves as the homes of Polo in the world, Dubai for some years now have been working hard at dominating the world of Horseracing. So I feel even by global standards, the fact that 12-12 Polo and Turf Club is combining Polo, Horseracing, and other equestrian sports, is no small feat that would require so much investment in time, energy, and resources.  Coming to Nigeria, take Fifth Chukker in Kaduna for instance, it has been running for about 16 to 17 years yet if you go there, you will find several projects springing up to match the fast-changing trend of architecture and equestrian sports. I think when it comes to perfection in equestrian sports, it is safe to describe it as a never-ending journey. Wherever we stop and whatever we are able to achieve, will be continued by another generation that succeeds us. We believe the keywords are determination and continuity; this project serves to encourage younger Nigerians to place passion over immediate gains.

7. How did the 12-12 Polo and Turf Club idea begin?

My grandmother has always had a very good relationship with the sultanate from Late Sultan Abubakar III, to Late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki and even to this moment. My earliest encounters with horses began when Sultan Abubakar III would take me and some of his grandchildren on a tour round his stables and we would come across a wide variety of horse breeds.

The second significant encounter was in 1980. I came back from school one afternoon and met my grandmother and her brother, Late Kere Ahmed (Daddy) who brought a message from the then governor, Late Shehu Kangiwa, for my grandmother. The governor wanted to know when he could come visit her but out of respect, she opted to go and visit him at the government house instead. I gladly accompanied her and her brother Kere Ahmed, when she offered.

On reaching the government house, Aunty Hannatu (Gov. Shehu Kangiwa’s wife) directed us to the back where we met Shehu Kangiwa attending to horses in his stables. As they exchanged pleasantries with my grandmother, he noticed how transfixed I was to the horses at the stables and he asked if I would like to own a horse. I excitedly nodded and that was how I got a gift of my first horse.

At first, my grandmother objected to this gift considering the pressure it would put on her to take care of the horse for me but Shehu Kangiwa insisted and she succumbed when he offered for the horse to remain in his stables where it would be taken care of and I was free to visit at any time I wanted to ride it.

My passion for horses was further established when Late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki gifted me my second horse in 1983. Interestingly, this is a wonderful gesture that has even transcended to his son Mallam Ahmed Dasuki who recently donated two thoroughbred horses to our riding school.

So I would say my love for horses began quite early in life but the idea for 12-12 Polo and Turf Club was conceived when we at first, wanted to have ranch/resort for horse riding but the dream kept getting bigger until it took us to this point and even now, the dream keeps getting bigger as we cross some of the hurdles.

8. Things seem to be falling into pleasant places but was there a point when you felt like quitting?

I think ‘felt like quitting’ is kind of a strong term because I was raised by my grandmother who instilled in me that fear of failure in whatever I do therefore I always see challenges as opportunities to triumph rather than just obstacles.

Believe me, the challenges we faced were enormous and we still face a number of them but through them all, if we felt quitting was an option, there would not have been a place called 12-12 Polo and Turf Club today.

9. What were the challenges you faced?

We had a number of sites that were proposed for this project but due to bureaucracy and some other challenges we could not secure those areas. But ultimately by divine intervention, we secured our present location, which incidentally became more strategic for what we want to achieve than most of the places we lost.

We have faced challenges of bureaucracy with some FCT Ministers who felt that the land should be allocated to residential estates instead because they could not see beyond this dream. You see, there are certain edifices that compliment every great city in the world. A great city has to have hospitals, schools, markets, road networks, a stadium, an orchestra, a museum, parks and recreational areas, and a polo/horseracing resort is pivotal to the composition of such a great city. That is why we have town planners that design how an entire city should be and where everything should be positioned. Unfortunately some of these ministers were too myopic to follow through with such plans and designs.

The President is the chief custodian of the wellbeing of the Federal Capital Territory, and since he delegates that responsibility to the FCT Minister, it becomes incumbent on him to ensure that only people of pedigree, insight and foresight are appointed as FCT ministers and not those with the ‘buy and sell land’ mentality; some of which we have had in the past. There is however a liver lining in the fact that at some points, some of the FCT Ministers come along to right some of these wrongs and give Abuja the proper treatment it deserves as the most important city in Africa.

We are thankful that a person like Mal. Nasir El-Rufai came, saw the importance of a world-class facility for polo, horseracing, and other equestrian sports in Abuja, and ensured that the land was allocated to us for that purpose.

I held a meeting with the current FCT Minister Mohammed Bello at his office on July 17, 2017. We had several discussions regarding the current state and future of 12-12 Polo and Turf Club. He expressed a serious resolution to solving some of our challenges which I have mentioned above. The Minister was pleasantly surprised that we withdrew from one of our lands, Plot1166, measuring about 40 hectres. The plot had been encroached upon by the Ministry of Works and Housing which compelled us to back out despite having the legal right of the land.

In spite of the challenges we face, it becomes reassuring to have the minister taking a vested interest in protecting 12-12 Polo and Turf Club and other areas of similar value within Abuja.

I recall on the 27^th of August, 2016, while addressing a gathering of journalists, the minister said he looks forward to a day in Abuja when the FCT minister would call a director or any public servant, and demand for a certain plot of land for the wrong reason, and the person would have the courage to turn the minister down. A person that would encourage his subordinates to do the right thing even if it means defying him is the kind of person I would love Abuja to be entrusted to.

10. Are there still challenges now?

Most prominent among the challenges we face today are those of land encroachment, illegal allocation of lands by some government authorities, bush burning, and unauthorized excavation of the Hill.

It is very unfortunate that the Ministry of Works and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) have made themselves the agents of many of the confusion and illegalities that have befallen the Gwarinpa District and several other parts of Abuja. Gen. Sani Abacha had a very formidable and vibrant plan for Gwarinpa which happens to be the largest estate in West Africa but he, and other drivers of that dream would be sorely disappointed in what the Ministry of Works and FHA have turned it into. I dare say that Gwarinpa is a disaster waiting to happen because they have made illegal allocations to people who have built on drainages, water and electric pipelines and they have even gone ahead to approve illegal structures that endanger the lives of people on the daily, not to talk of the aesthetic beauty of the area, that they have deprived us of.

For some of us, we are privileged to have the original master plan of Abuja engrained in our heads because some of our parents were part and parcel of the team that designed the original master plan. This makes it easy for us to identify all the places where this beautiful city has been mistreated.

It may interest you to know that in Abuja’s master plan, the entire stretch of the land where 12-12 Polo and Turf Club seats today was supposed to be a green area. You can attest to the beauty and grandeur of our facility because the land was appropriately used. Then, imagine how exquisite it would have been if the land use for the entire area had been strictly adhered to. If you come to 12-12 today, you would find several buildings littered around the area which is in total deviation from the master plan and we owe all that to mismanagement of authority and greed from some of these government officials. For the sake of posterity, I dare anyone who challenges what has been said here, to bring forth the original Gwarinpa Master Plan and compare it to what is on ground; to see how far away we are from the ideal.

11. Have you enjoyed any support from government, organisations or individuals?

We have received immense support from several personalities and for that we are grateful. From inception till date, we consider ourselves honoured to have hosted three former Presidents and Heads of State, a former Vice President, and recently, on July 22, 2017 to be precise, we had the singular privilege of hosting the Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who was impressed with what we have achieved suffer and pledged his support to make 12-12 attain its full potential.

As I have earlier mentioned, we recently had a meeting with the current FCT Minister, and the outcome of the meeting was quite positive because the minister and his team have stepped up to wade in on some of the challenges that we face. Mohammed Bello recently accompanied the Acting President to our Facility on the aforementioned familiarization visit and he commended the progress he saw at the club.

The Minister of Transport, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi visited our facility and applauded what we have achieved here so far, and Minister of State Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu had nothing but praise for our resolve on environmental sustainability as well as praise for our well-maintained greenery. We have also been privileged to have the continuous support of the Minister of State for solid minerals, Abubakar Bawa Bwari.

Through the course of our events and engagements, we have hosted and interrelated with Ambassadors and High Commissioners of many countries and so far, they have also shown interest in having a membership/working relationship with us. This hopefully can be translated into an FDI opportunity for Nigeria at large.

As far as corporate organisations go, we have enjoyed the support from the likes of ExxonMobil and Glo Unlimited who have shown their resolve to promote the growth of equestrian sports in Nigeria.

12. What are your Expectations from the government, corporate organisations, and individuals?

The government can make enabling policies that can support sports tourism. We all know that football is the most popular sport in the country yet it is not having the maximum support it desires let alone sports like polo and horseracing that are more capital-intensive to set up.

Our expectations from private organisations are their support through sponsorship of our tournaments and events so that we have that mutual benefit where we give them proper publicity for their brands, and they help advance equestrian sports in Nigeria.

In the first quarter of 2018, we plan to officially open the club to individual, corporate, and diplomatic membership. This creates an opportunity for individuals to be part of this Nigerian Project and make meaningful contributions.

Earlier you asked how 12-12 Polo and Turf Club stands out from other equestrian clubs, I feel this is one more way that we are unique. No doubt that equestrian sports are cost sensitive, but what we are doing here, is setting up an equestrian center that breaks people away from that elitist perception and has something for every class without infringing on any category’s liberty, privacy, and enjoyment.

13. What has the club achieved so far?

Like I earlier iterated, this club is what we like to call a Nigerian Project and that is why we are promoting and creating awareness for one cause or the other. For instance, we have organised two International Polo Tournaments in November 2015 and November 2016. While the 2015 tournament created awareness of the conditions of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria and also commemorated the fallen Officers and Soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the 2016 tournament created awareness of the need to prioritise education in Nigeria, especially in the Northeast where school facilities, students and teachers have suffered attacks due to the insurgency.

From the few I have mentioned, you would notice that we do not count our milestones only based on the equestrian events that we have successfully held, but on what we have contributed to making Nigeria a greater nation.

14. On a final note, I noticed some dates engraved in stone around the facility. Do they have any historical connotations to this place?

Of course! The dates depict some defining moments through the club’s history; some were pleasant and others were bad experiences we encountered. Since we are having new experiences daily, there will definitely be more of those dates but ultimately, the public will get an insight of what we have gone through in this journey when we publish a tell-all book about 12-12 Polo and Turf Club which God willing, will be done in our 10th anniversary.