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Tag: Olawepo-Hashim

  • No plans to step down for Buhari, Atiku – Olawepo-Hashim

     

    The Presidential candidate of People’s Trust (PT), Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has declared he has no plans to step down for either President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

    Olawepo-Hashim expressed confidence the two candidates are beatable with their parties’ woeful performances since 1999.

    He lamented 70 percent of voters are undecided on their choice less than 11 days to the presidential poll.

    He called on Nigerians to support his candidacy for rapid economic development that will lift masses out of abject poverty.

    According to a statement through his media team by Hassan Ibrahim, the Presidential hopeful who spoke during campaign in Akure, the Ondo state capital advised the electorates to reject the two political parties that had failed them in the last twenty years.

    Olawepo-Hashim, who was accompanied by his Campaign Director-General and former transport minister, Mr Habu Fari, said the country was too endowed with natural resources for the citizenry to be wallowing in poverty.

    He vowed to introduce policies that would end insecurity and economic hardship if elected the president of the nation on the sixteenth of this month.

    He advised eligible voters to secure their future by voting for the party in the 2019 elections.

    Olawepo-Hashim assured Nigerians, especially youths and graduates he would create jobs and make the environment conducive for businesses to flourish.

    The presidential candidate of PT said his party was fine-tuning its strategy in all states of the federation on how to wrestle power from the ruling APC, adding that PT had the highest number of representation in constituency nominations.

    READ ALSO: Olawepo-Hashim challenges APC, PDP to debate

    According to him: “Some few days to election more than 70 percent of the electorates are still wondering who they are going to vote for.

    “They have examined the candidates they are going to vote for and what these candidates promised to offer and among all the alternative parties, the PT is the biggest.

    “But I can tell you that this election is still very open even though its ten days to the election.

    “This is one of the reasons I said if elected we will form a government of National unity which will include the good people in the APC and PDP.”

    Denying he was planning to step down, Olawepo-Hashim said: “Nigeria is a very interesting country, and I don’t know any country where other candidates are pressured to step down.

    “I think it is a coinage here because in a multi- party democracy, nobody steps down, you win some seats and on the basis of this you can form coalition based on programme after the election.

    “The presidential election is not about party but about candidates and the future of the country and the two parties have failed in that regard. But we give hope that if we come in, Nigeria will be better”.

    Fari expressed delight the people of Ondo state trooped out to receive Olawepo-Hashim, indicating that the people are ready to elect the third force which the PT candidate represented.

  • CJN’s suspension an aberration, says Olawepo-Hashim

    Presidential candidate of Peoples Trust (PT) in the February 16, 2019 election, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has called for international sanctions against officials of the executive arm of the Federal Government, declaring that the suspension of the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, by President Muhammadu Buhari was a descent to full-blown dictatorship.

    The presidential hopeful, in a statement on Friday, said that the development was an aberration to the laws of Nigeria and an indication that the country had again fallen into dictatorship.

    He said: “This is a clear indication that we have returned to full-blown dictatorship. Following the suspension of the Chief Justice of the Federation, we are seeing full-blown dictatorship in Nigeria. It is an abyss, an aberration and a clear violation of our laws.

    “We will not allow Nigeria to fall into dictatorship anymore.

    “I call on all lovers of Nigeria and democracy and the international community to immediately impose sanctions on officials of the executive arm of government, their families, including their friends and associates.”

    Olawepo Hashim enumerated the sanctions to be imposed on officials of the Buhari government to include immediate travel ban on executive office holders at the federal level, freeze on their bank accounts and refusal of visa, including on health grounds “to members of the executive arm of government, their friends, families and associates.”

  • Onnoghen’s suspension descent into full-scale dictatorship – Olawepo-Hashim

    Presidential candidate of Peoples Trust (PT) in the February 16 election Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has condemned suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen as a descent into full-blown dictatorship.

    He called for international sanctions against officials of the executive arm.

    The presidential hopeful, in a statement on Friday, said the development was an aberration to the laws of Nigeria and an indication that the country had again fallen into dictatorship.

    He said: “This is a clear indication that we have returned to full blown dictatorship.

    “Following the suspension of the Chief Justice of the Federation, we are seeing full-blown dictatorship in Nigeria. It is an abyss, an aberration and a clear violation of our laws.

    Read also: Olawepo-Hashim challenges APC, PDP to debate

    “We will not allow Nigeria fall into dictatorship anymore. I call on all lovers of Nigeria and lovers of democracy and the international community to immediately impose sanctions on officials of the executive arm of government, their families, including their friends and associates.”

    Olawepo Hashim listed sanctions to be imposed on officials of the Buhari government to include immediate travel ban, freezing of their bank accounts and refusal of visa, including on health grounds.

    He also called on President Buhari to immediately resign on account of his violation of the 1999 Constitution, which he said the President swore to uphold.

    He said: “I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately step down as President. This is a violation of our constitution and he should resign immediately.”

  • Olawepo-Hashim challenges APC, PDP to debate

    PEOPLE’S Trust (PT) presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress(APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) to a debate, following their failure to appear at the NEDG/BON debate held in Abuja on Saturday.

    Olawepo-Hashim, whose party is also known as the Third Force and who had earlier protested his exclusion from the debate, said he was volunteering to enter into a debate with the APC and PDP candidates at any location of their choice.

    He also hailed the candidates of the three candidates who appeared at the debate, declaring that they gave good accounts of themselves.

    According to Olawepo-Hashim, “Nigerian electorate deserve to scrutinise the candidates and programmes of the two behemoths that have come to be known as the ‘two evils of Nigerian politics’. Their absence under whatever excuse(s) shows their contempt for the electorates.”

    The PT presidential candidate, however, congratulated the candidates of the ACPN, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili; Young Progressive Party (YPP) Mr. Kingsley Moghalu and Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) Mr. Fela Durotoye for “their brilliant performance at the debate”.

    Olawepo-Hashim called on the NEDG/BON to immediately organise another debate to include People’s Trust, the biggest of the newly registered political parties that had been unfairly excluded.

    “We have complained about this in the past, a new debate will be a good way to cure the debate platform of that error. There is no problem in making a mistake by excluding us, but it will be dishonourable not to seize a good opportunity to correct your error.”

    The PT presidential candidate called on the organisers to also include promising candidates like Omoyele Sowore and others who may be interested in the next round of the debate.

  • Middle Belt leaders adopt Olawepo-Hashim as presidential candidate

    •PT campaign condemns killing in Lagos

    PEOPLE’S Trust (PT) presidential candidate Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim yesterday move closer to achieving his aspiration with the Middle Belt Forum adopting him as its candidate for the February 16 election.

    Leaders of the forum, at a meeting in Abuja yesterday, ratified the choice of Olawepo-Hashim, capping a process that started some six months earlier.

    The forum’s leader, former Plateau State Military Governor Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (retd), who announced the news to a gathering of its elders in Abuja, said the choice of Olawepo-Hashim has been ratified by the forum.

    The forum has presence in 12 of 19 Northern states, its leaders said.

    The leaders added that the new development could alter the calculations ahead of the 2019 election.

    According to him, the journey for the ratification of a common Middle Belt candidate started, when the Southern leaders asked the Middle Belt to produce a common candidate that would be supported for the Presidency by the Southern and Middle Belt Forum.

    He said the forum identified many aspirants from the Middle Belt and later shortlisted three of them, who met with the leaders at the home of former Kwara State Governor Chief Cornelius Adebayo in Lagos.

    Suleiman said the forum had assured the three shortlisted candidates that a final choice would be made and that all of them must be ready to work together.

    He also stated that the Middle Belt would continue to network with Southern leaders on the adoption of the common candidate.

    “What we are doing  here today is to tell you that the Middle Belt has completed the exercise and we have settled for a candidate and that candidate is you (Olawepo-Hashim),” the retired Air Force officer and former Chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) said.

    Air Commodore Suleiman then asked Olawepo-Hashim, who was in attendance to respond.

    Olawepo-Hashim, who expressed gratitude to leaders and members of the Middle Belt Forum for the adoption, said he was a candidate with capacity to unite Nigeria and bring prosperity to the land.

    He said his adoption was not just because he hailed from the Middle Belt, but more of a recognition of his capacity to keep the country safe and united, a role, he said the Middle Belt has always played.

    He said the Middle Belt has remained the mainstay of Nigerian unity, adding that Middle Belters fought in the frontlines as soldiers, policemen and forces that keep the country united.

    Olawepo-Hashim said: “That Nigeria is still standing as one today is due to the sacrifices of all of you. Most of you were not just soldiers in mouth, you also led in the battle field to keep Nigeria one. The forces that fought either as Air Force officers, or as combatant soldiers and Police officers are all from Middle belt.

    “Today, the country is facing an existential threat. Eleven out of 19 Northern states are today ravaged by cross border banditry and all manners of criminality. The South is threatened by kidnappers, armed robbers, you can hardly travel from Port Harcourt to Lagos on road without major incidents. So, the country is facing existential threat.

    “And it is not surprising to me that you have done what you are supposed to do as leaders. At this point in time, by agreeing to support somebody who can bring the country together. I am sure you have done this not just because I am a Middle Belter, but because you believe that we are able to keep the job done. And this job is to keep Nigeria one, secure the country. Secondly, bring prosperity to the land and three guarantee all round socio-development that would bring our people quickly out of poverty.

    “The next election is not just about choosing a President, it is a battle for the soul of Nigeria.”

    He promised to address the imbalance in state creations and form a National Guard to enhance security, if elected President.

    Other leaders of the Middle Belt present at the brief gathering included the President of Middle Belt Forum Dr. Pogu Bitrus, Chief Adebayo, former Rivers State Military Governor Maj.-Gen. Zamani Lekwot (retd), former Niger State Deputy Governor Nuhu Zagbayi, retired DIG Porter Dabup and members of the executive committee of the Middle Belt Forum.

    The PT Presidential Campaign Council of People’s Trust (PT) also yesterday condemned the violence at the Lagos rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where thugs of political rivals allegedly fired gunshots at one another.

    Two persons were reportedly killed in the process while many others sustained various degrees of injury in the pandemonium that ensued.

    PT Presidential Campaign Council, in a statement issued by its Director of Communication, Laura Oloyede, described the incident as ominous and called on Nigerians to take note of the violent dimension that the governing party has introduced into the campaigns for the forthcoming general election.

  • PT’s Olawepo-Hashim is most prominent candidate on social media

     

    The weekly social media rating of presidential candidates’ engagements on the popular platform, Facebook, on Wednesday showed candidate of the Peoples Trust (PT) Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim is in the lead.

    He is ahead on engagement of APC’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and PDP’s Atiku Abubakar.

    Olawepo- Hashim, who overtook Buhari and Atiku on 10th December 2018, has remained on top with the highest engagement on social media for four consecutive weeks.

    Data released on Wednesday in Abuja showed Olawepo-Hashim recorded Facebook engagements in excess of 17,000 while Atiku Abubakar, who came second, recorded a little over 14,000.

    Buhari came third with engagements in excess of 3,000.

    The statistics also showed that the Presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Kingsley Moghalu and the candidate of Alliance for New Nigeria(ANN) ,Fela Durotoye and other presidential candidates were trailing behind .

    Data analysts involved in the polling project said the data on each of the candidates’ were realistic because “Facebook represents the broad spectrum of voters who will vote in the February poll.”

    According to them: “Increasing engagements imply voters’ growing interest in the candidates while a decreasing result reflects voters’ disenchantment. A static return means a candidate at a crossroads in the campaign.”

    The analysts said Olawepo-Hashim’s growing engagement rating is a measure of voters’ interest in him as a third force alternative.

    “He is no longer part of the pack of third party candidates. He has moved ahead to emerge as a real alternative to Buhari and Atiku. This is a game changer from data perspective,” Segun Seriki, the lead analyst for the project, said.

    He added: “The latest data point to a major upset within the struggle for presidency, we are making the report available to all the major candidates.”

    “Our latest data reflect a major upset in the battle for the Presidency. It is no longer a two- horse race.

    “There is now a third force that is overtaking the old alternatives. We are still following the data but for now, Olawepo-Hashim has pulled the impossible to maintain a four weeks lead over President Buhari and Atiku Abubakar.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • I’ll form govt of national unity, if elected, says Olawepo-Hashim

    PEOPLE’S Trust (PT) presidential candidate in the forthcoming  elections Mr. Gbenga Olawepo Hashim has assured the Nigerian electorate that he will form a government of national unity within 48 hours of been sworn in.

    This, he said, is to confront the challenges facing the country.

    In an interview with reporters in Abuja, the PT candidate said the task of rescuing Nigeria requires every available good hand, not just in PT, but also experts, who are good but have been sidelined in the two big parties due to pettiness.

    He said: “Our government will include, by the grace of God, forward-looking political leaders in the two major parties and the newly registered parties, members of the intelligentsia, professional groups, youth, women and other social interest groups and technocrats that we need from within Nigeria and the energetic and patriotic Nigerians in the diaspora.

    Read also: Olawepo-Hashim urges state officials to stop dividing Nigeria

    “I have related across the social movements, political spectrum in the past 30 years and the business contingent of the Nigeria Diaspora for almost 10 years. I know first-hand the talents at the disposal of Nigeria, to  save the country from the current state of hopelessness.”

    “I will able to form a broad-based government within 48 hours of being sworn in as president by the grace of God, to confront the urgent task of securing Nigeria, uniting her people and bringing economic prosperity and rapid all-round infrastructural and social development.

    “We have the talented people to solve the problems confronting Nigeria both within and outside the country, only the narrow mindedness and ineptitude of some leaders have prevented the deployment of these enormously great human resources available to this nation.

    “We have no stomach for egocentrism and revenge and nemesis in the urgent task of rescuing Nigeria. We will reach out across the “Isle” and bring Nigerians quickly to defeat insecurity and poverty.”

     

     

     

  • I’ll form a Government of National Unity if elected-Olawepo Hashim

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Trust (PT) Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has promised to form a Government of National Unity that includes all political forces, if elected.

    The government, he vowed, will be formed within 48 hours of being sworn in.

    He assured the move will douse tension and address most of the challenges facing the nation.

    Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the PT candidate said the urgent task of rescuing Nigeria requires every available good hand across political affiliations.

    He lamented most of the good brains in the nation have been sidelined in the two big parties due to pettiness.

    According to Olawepo-Hashim: “Our government will include ,by the grace of God, forward -looking political leaders in the two major parties and the newly registered parties, members of the Intelligentsia, professional groups, youth ,women and other social interest groups and technocrats that we need from within Nigeria and the energetic and patriotic Nigerian Diaspora community .

    “I have related across the social movements, political spectrum in the past 30 years and the business contingent of the Nigeria Diaspora for almost ten years.

    “I know firsthand the talents at the disposal of Nigeria to save the country from the current state of hopelessness.”

    He added: “I am able to form a broad-based government within 48 hours of being sworn in as president by the grace of God to confront the urgent task of securing Nigeria, uniting her people and bringing economic prosperity and rapid all round infrastructural and social development.

    “We have the talented people to solve the problems confronting Nigeria both within and outside the country, only the narrow mindedness and ineptitude of some leaders have prevented the deployment of these enormously great human resource available to this nation.”

    ‘We have no stomach for egocentrism and revenge and nemesis in the urgent task of rescuing Nigeria.

    “We will reach out across the “Isle” and bring Nigerians quickly to defeat insecurity and poverty.”

     

     

  • Olawepo-Hashim urges state officials to stop dividing Nigeria

    PEOPLE’S Trust (PT) presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has expressed shock and dismay at the increasing ethnicisation of February presidential race by high-ranking state officials.

    Olawepo-Hashim warned that the trend was an attempt at “somalisation” of Nigerian politics.

    Speaking in Lagos at a brainstorming session on finding national consensus over the state of the nation, Olawepo-Hashim slammed those in high offices, who are dangling 2023 presidential ticket as a political carrot.

    He described them as “agents of ethnic balkanisation and political retrogression”.

    The presidential hopeful, who alerted the nation to the emerging deterioration of standard and norms in high offices, said it was alarming that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was allegedly leading the ethnicisation campaign.

    Olawepo-Hashim wondered why the high office of Vice President should be dragged in the mud of tribal bigotry.

    “That reprehensible statement promising 2023 presidency to the Southwest should never have emanated from the Office of the Vice-President. That office transcends tribal thinking. The presidency is and should be a rallying point for all Nigerians, irrespective of tribes or religions,” Olawepo-Hashim said.

    He noted that tribal campaign hinged on 2023 as a promissory note confirmed the shallowness of political discourse as issue-based campaigns have been jettisoned by the two mainstream political parties.

    He warned that “Nigerians have grown beyond this bigotry through inter-marriage, electoral endorsement and business union”.

    “As early as First Republic, the Tiv people elected a Kanuri man as their representative to the Northern House of Assembly. In 1993, the late MKO Abiola beat Bashir Tofa in Kano. Today, so disappointedly, some top leaders instead of building on our achievements in the area of national unity are busy pushing to split and reopen old animosity and rancour among our people,” Olawepo-Hashim said.

    Wondering why politics and campaign cannot be about higher ideals of national unity and prosperity, the PT candidate affirmed that the presidency of Nigeria should be about merit, competence and passion to deliver on good governance, not the drumming of ethnic card or the promotion of tribal advantage.

    “The Presidency must be about how further to unite the country, not how to divide it more. It must be about how to bring progress, not how to foster under-development. It is not about ethnicity or religion, but on what you have to offer the people and the state.

    “Let those seeking re-election campaign on their records. Using state funds to curry votes through Tradermoni and other contraptions is very cheap and ridiculous. Let us focus on the realities of under-development threatening our collective existence.

    “For me and our party, we preach a pan-Nigerian agenda as a modern state, where citizenship is for individuals, not based on ethnic or religion. I will be a President of all Nigerians, regardless of their political, religious, tribal inclinations,” Olawepo-Hashim said.

  • Olawepo-Hashim to heal the wound of Biafra

    It was jubilation galore in Enugu, capital of Enugu State, when the People’s Trust (PT) presidential candidate Mr.Gbenga Olawepo Hashim, assured South Easterners that he will heal the pains of the civil war and unite the country. He also promised to create an additional state in the Southeast if elected at the poll. Hashim met with various groups in preparation of his nationwide campaign. He said Nigeria was not what many had envisaged, but his presidency would surely bring unity and harmony. Hashim also consulted with stakeholders and community leaders in the South East geo-political zone.

    According to him, there was the need for equity in the federation.

    He observed that only the South East has five states, out of the six geopolitical zones.

    Hashim said he would create a legislative framework within six months for the creation of one more state in the South East, so that the region would be in the same footing with the rest of the country.

    He said: “2019 election is going to be an unusual election, in the sense that it is almost a referendum on the future of Nigeria, on its peace and stability, on its security, on its continuity and of course, most importantly, about the prosperity of Nigeria. “

    “The South East zone is very crucial. The way we handle issues that affect us and are germane to the people would determine whether we will continue to live in unity and peace as an indivisible entity. “There have been a lot of wounds in this part of Nigeria. People carry a lot of wounds. Just like a lot of communities in Nigeria and states also carry some kinds of wounds. But there is no other place in Nigeria where these wounds are so deep as we have it in the South East of Nigeria,” Hashim said. He said their ticket was committed to uniting Nigeria and reconciling the people so that they could face the task of national development  without any handicap. He noted that as long as any section in Nigeria feels they were conquered people, so would the difficult task of nation building becomes more challenging.”

    Hashim said he came to the South East to tell the people that there is a presidential candidate who is irrevocably committed to healing the wounds of the region.

    He said his administration would decentralise power in the country within six months by amending the Exclusive and the Concurrent Legislative Lists to ensure that states have greater role in resource mobilization and deployment .Apart from the South East, Hashim noted that Nigeria needs security urgently now that out of the 19 northern states, only six currently enjoy some level of stability.

    He added: “One of the reasons why killings go on endlessly in Nigeria is the fact that nobody is brought to book when they commit murder. That is why some say the lives of Nigerians have become so cheap. Under our presidency, the life of every Nigerian will count equal,” Hashim said.

    The candidate blamed the upheavals in the country on the parlous state of the economy, joblessness and hopelessness. He said under his government, GDP will increase to N4 trillion dollars in 10 years by leveraging on infrastructure funds that are available globally. Hashim said he would quarantee the ease of doing business.

    He said: “We will issue out the requisite SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to make licensing for business activities to be as rapid as possible. “I understand what the South East people who are entrepreneurs want. They want an environment where trade and commerce can thrive and that is the Nigeria we are going to build. “We will create jobs through our Nigeria new economic development plan which will create four million jobs annually. We have a blueprint we are going to use it,” he said.