Tag: Gbenga Hashim

A former presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to Nigeria.

He promised not to surrender in the struggle to see the country get better, despite the nation’s deepening political, economic, and security challenges.

Hashim spoke in Abuja at a Northcentral zonal meeting of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, which brought together state coordinators from across the region.

Addressing the gathering, Hashim said Nigeria’s current realities demand steadfast leadership, an organised civic engagement and citizens who are willing to remain involved rather than retreat into apathy or despair. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart warned that abandoning the country would amount to handing its future over to mediocrity, impunity and misrule.

According to him, national renewal requires discipline, clarity of purpose and sustained grassroots organization.

Hashim stressed that meaningful change is never accidental but the product of deliberate and collective effort.

He urged the coordinators to deepen community-level engagement while remaining anchored to the core values of accountability, justice and national unity.

The meeting reviewed the state of the movement across the Northcentral zone, assessed ongoing mobilisation efforts and agreed on strategies to strengthen coordination and expand the movement’s reach within the region.

The coordinators at the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to the vision of a Nigeria governed by competence, integrity and inclusiveness, pledging to intensify grassroots organisation and political education across their respective states.

Hashim recalled his long history of political advocacy, which began at the age of 14 when he became a sympathiser of progressive parties of the era.

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“We were not of voting age then, but we pasted posters and sang with excitement,” he said. “As a young boy, I engaged an NPN representative to the National Assembly, who was a family friend, in discussions about economic management based on my rudimentary knowledge of economics and government.”

Hashim stated that his early activism set him on the path of advocacy for democracy and good governance. This journey later led to his detention as a political detainee at the age of 20.

“Almost 40 years later, we are still standing,” Hashim said. “We will not give up until we see the Nigeria of our dreams, by the grace of God.”

Hashim also urged members to remind Nigerians, particularly the youth, of the country’s past economic strengths and future possibilities.

“Tell the people that in 1966, Nigeria’s economy was twice the size of Malaysia’s and bigger than those of Thailand and Indonesia,” he said. “Remind them how Nigeria assembled cars and tractors and produced vaccines at the Yaba Vaccine Centre. Let young people know that jobs through industrialisation are possible, as we had before, and that they are not condemned to a life dependent on palliatives. Tell them about our $4 trillion plan for economic transformation,” Hashim added.

The attendees renewed their determination among members to strengthen organisation, sustain advocacy and remain firm in the belief that Nigeria could still be rescued through principled leadership and collective action.

Former presidential candidate Dr. Gbenga Hashim has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to Nigeria, insisting that surrender is not an option despite the country’s deepening political, economic and security challenges.

Hashim made the declaration in Abuja during a North Central zonal meeting of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, which convened state coordinators from across the region.

Addressing the gathering, he emphasized that Nigeria’s current realities require steadfast leadership, organised civic engagement, and citizens willing to remain involved rather than retreat into apathy or despair. 

He warned that abandoning the nation would amount to handing its future to mediocrity, impunity and misrule.

Hashim stressed that national renewal demands discipline, clarity of purpose, and sustained grassroots organisation, noting that meaningful change is the result of deliberate and collective effort. 

He urged coordinators to strengthen community-level engagement while upholding accountability, justice and national unity.

The meeting reviewed the state of the movement across the North Central zone, assessed ongoing mobilisation efforts, and outlined strategies to enhance coordination and expand the movement’s reach within the region.

Coordinators in attendance reaffirmed their commitment to a vision of Nigeria guided by competence, integrity and inclusiveness, pledging to intensify grassroots organisation and political education in their respective states.

Reflecting on his personal journey, Hashim recalled his long history of political advocacy, which began at age 14 when he became a supporter of progressive parties of the era.

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“We were not of voting age then, but we pasted posters and sang with excitement,” he said. “As a young boy, I engaged an NPN representative to the National Assembly, who was a family friend, in discussions about economic management based on my rudimentary knowledge of economics and government.”

He explained that his early activism set him on the path of advocacy for democracy and good governance, a journey that later led to his detention as a political detainee at about the age of 20.

“Almost 40 years later, we are still standing,” Hashim said. “We will not give up until we see the Nigeria of our dreams, by the grace of God.”

Hashim also urged members to remind Nigerians, particularly the youth, of the country’s past economic strengths and future possibilities.

“Tell the people that in 1966 Nigeria’s economy was twice the size of Malaysia’s and bigger than those of Thailand and Indonesia,” he said. “Remind them how Nigeria assembled cars and tractors and produced vaccines at the Yaba Vaccine Centre. Let young people know that jobs through industrialisation are possible, as we had before, and that they are not condemned to a life dependent on palliatives. Tell them about our $4 Trillion plan for economic transformation,” he added.

The meeting ended with renewed determination among members to strengthen organisation, sustain advocacy and remain firm in the belief that Nigeria can still be rescued through principled leadership and collective action.

A presidential hopeful, Gbenga Hashim, has said there must be internal reforms of the nation’s security architecture for any external help to make the needed impact.

He said the recent United States airstrikes targeting Islamic State (IS) elements operating within Nigeria indicted the country’s security architecture.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart said the government should face up to what he called governance failure.

In a statement, Hashim said the U.S. “intervention” reflected growing international concern over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, particularly in the Northwest, where terrorist groups mostly hold sway.

The former presidential candidate noted that concerned global actors cannot ignore the emergence of an IS foothold in Nigeria.

He stressed that the country is “too large, too strategic, and too important to be allowed to fail”.

Hashim said since 2021, and more intensely over the past year, his team had repeatedly warned that security modelling in the Northwest pointed towards a dangerous trajectory, including the potential emergence of an IS-aligned enclave if urgent action was not taken.

The presidential hopeful attributed the worsening insecurity to deepening poverty, alleged governance failure, and weakened institutions.

These, he said, have emboldened extremist groups while moderate political and secular voices across the region were allegedly ignored.

“More worrying is the elevation of individuals who enable or rationalise extremism into positions of political influence, creating conditions under which terror groups can aspire to territorial control,” he stated.

Acknowledging that international airstrikes may temporarily degrade terrorist capabilities, Hashim stressed that lasting solutions can only come from within.

He added that as external interventions are not expected to be one-off actions, the mechanisms guiding them must be carefully negotiated within the framework of security cooperation between sovereign nations.

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The presidential hopeful stressed that there should be clear accountability structures and transparent reporting measures to prevent abuse and ensure long-term stability.

“The situation in the Northwest is dire. Without urgent internal reforms, improved governance, and decisive political leadership, external military interventions will not produce sustainable results,” he warned.

Hashim urged the Federal Government to undertake the critical internal reforms needed to stabilise the country, arguing that Nigeria continues to grapple with fundamental governance and security deficits that threaten its democratic future.

According to him, the government’s alleged reluctance to act decisively may stem from political compromises made during the 2015 struggle for power.

Hashim said such compromises now constrain the government’s alleged ability to confront extremist elements head-on.

Hashim warned that Nigeria can no longer afford denial or half-measures in the face of “an existential threat,” calling for an urgent and courageous leadership to prevent further deterioration of national security.

Businessman and 2027 presidential hopeful, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, on Thursday paid a condolence visit to Mrs. Adebola Awolowo, widow of the late Segun Awolowo, offering prayers and words of comfort for family. 

Hashim said the atmosphere in the Awolowo home was “heavy with grief,” reflecting the depth of pain felt by relatives, friends, and associates of the late statesman. “The grief in the air as the funeral ceremony kicks off today is thick. May the Lord be our strength,” he said.

The visit came two weeks after Hashim released a deeply emotional tribute to Segun Awolowo, former Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and grandson of the legendary Chief Obafemi Awolowo. In the tribute titled Good Night My Brother and Friend, Segun Awolowo, Hashim recalled receiving news of his passing while in Madrid, a moment he described as “shocking and unsettling.”

He said the late Awolowo was part of a close-knit Abuja circle of friends bound together for over two decades. Hashim narrated how, during a visit months before his death, he found Awolowo energetic, optimistic and fully immersed in his work. “He proudly introduced me to his senior management team,” he added.

Hashim also recounted what he now considers Awolowo’s parting message: “Gbenga, please keep standing for Nigeria. Among all of us, you’re the one I know has the capacity to stand.”

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Describing him as “a rare gem—humble, thoughtful and deeply patriotic,” Hashim said Awolowo carved his place in public life through character, service and hard work rather than by leaning on his famous surname.

He said their friendship, strengthened over the years by deep conversations and moments of prayer, was a gift he will always cherish. “I am grateful for the friendship we shared and pained that it ended too soon,” he wrote.

Segun Awolowo’s death has continued to draw widespread tributes from political, business and social circles across the country as preparations for his funeral intensify.

The 2027 presidential aspirant and global businessman, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has paid glowing tribute to the late Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, describing him as an extraordinary figure whose teachings and influence helped stabilise peace and strengthen unity across Nigeria.

In a condolence message, Olawepo-Hashim portrayed the revered Islamic scholar as a man of deep devotion, profound knowledge and unwavering commitment to national harmony — qualities he said defined the cleric’s decades-long service to God and humanity.

He noted that Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s spiritual impact extended far beyond Northern Nigeria, touching the lives of millions of Muslims across the country and beyond its borders.

According to him, the late scholar’s moral discipline, scholarship and leadership provided guidance during some of Nigeria’s most challenging periods.

Olawepo-Hashim added that Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s teachings were rooted in enduring principles of peace, tolerance and brotherhood — values he said Nigeria urgently needs as it strives to overcome divisions and heal long-standing wounds.

“Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi was a rallying force for unity,” he said. “Through his teachings and the millions of peace-loving followers he inspired, he strengthened the foundations of a united Nigeria. His life was a testimony of humility, scholarship and service.”

He added that Nigeria had lost more than a religious leader; it had lost a moral compass whose voice brought calm and direction in turbulent moments. The vacuum created by his passage, he stressed, would be deeply felt by the Muslim Ummah and by all Nigerians who cherish peace.

Hashim extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the late scholar, urging them to take pride in his extraordinary legacy of spiritual leadership and service. He commended them for their unwavering support throughout the Sheikh’s lifelong mission of spreading knowledge and moral guidance.

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He also condoled with the Government and people of Bauchi State, describing the loss as a profound blow to the state and to the nation. He urged authorities to honour the memory of the late scholar by promoting the peace-building values he lived by

To the global Tijjaniyya community, Hashim described the Sheikh’s death as a deeply painful moment, urging followers to remain united and steadfast in upholding his teachings.

He called on political and religious leaders across the country to draw inspiration from Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s devotion to moderation, tolerance and bridge-building, values he said were essential to strengthening social cohesion and securing a more inclusive future.

Hashim prayed for God to grant the Muslim Ummah, the Sheikh’s followers and the entire nation the strength to bear the loss, expressing confidence that his legacy would continue to illuminate Nigeria’s path to peace and unity for generations.