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Tag: Peoples Trust

  • Olawepo-Hashim writes INEC, seeks further shift of polls date

    Third Force Presidential candidate running on the People’s Trust (PT) platform, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has written the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu requesting a further extension of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The Presidential hopeful argued that, the one week extension was rather too short to conclude the stated enormous logistics requirement for the polls.

    Olawepo-Hashim who lately led the online polls of most preferred candidate amongst the third force, argued in a letter to the INEC chairman that another extension was reasonable in view of the logistics burden on the contestants and the parties.

    According to him, the candidates and the parties would now have to repeat logistics preparations that have hitherto been deployed to achieve the level of mobilization at the February 16 scheduled election.

    He stressed that, “It is my considered opinion that in the haste to stick to a quickly announced date for the election, the Commission may not have paid adequate attention to the attendant voter apathy that may result if adequate confidence building measures are not implemented to win back ‘would-be’ voters for the next date of polling.

    “As a result and because a potential voter’s apathy in some section of the country or all of the country may substantially affect the results of the election, a new date of election should be between three to four weeks from February 16 not one week from February 16 as previously announced. This is more so for self-funded candidates and political parties who do not have the possibilities or intentions of falling quickly on the State treasuries to refinance another logistic deployment.” He argued

    The candidate equally opined that, campaigs should also resume undoubtedly in consonance with extant legislation that allow campaign to continue up till 24 hours before elections, in order to achieve the same level of mobilization of voters as before February 16th.

    In his letter copied to the United Nations representatives, Observer and Civil Society Groups, the diplomatic community and the media Olawepo-Hashim also urged that, “the Commission should liase with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), who should use their national networks to ensure mobilization of communities, social and interest groups to reach potential voters in order to avoid voter apathy at the next date of election.”

  • 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.

  • I’ll end security challenges-Olawepo-Hashim

    1. •Presidential candidate promises to pay N50000 minimum wage

    T he Peoples Trust (PT)  launched  its presidential campaign in Abuja yesterday  with a promise by its leaders to rid  the nation of the current state of hopelessness, insecurity and youth unemployment.

    Presidential candidate of the party, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, who addressed thousands of  supporters at the Old Parade Ground, said the state of security in the country was nothing to write home about , with 11  of 19 Northern states facing severe security challenges.

    He  faulted  President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption,saying the administration was  not fight corruption to achieved positive result.

    Corruption, he said, would be better tackled if the minimum wage was  above N18 thousand.

    In this regard,he promised to  pay N50000 as minimum wage.

    Olawepo-Hashim vowed that the party if voted into power will put an end to poverty and deal with insecurity in the country.

    His words: “We are a party that is determined to build a better Nigeria. We want to put an end to poverty, and under development that has been the hallmark of the incumbent government. We will fright corruption in a way that it will be done scientifically.

    “It will not just be a police action. You cannot fight corruption when the majority of the people are hungry.

    “A government  that pays it workers minimum wage below 18 thousand naira cannot fight corruption efficiently. We will raise the minimum wage to N50000  during  the first anniversary of  our government. You can trust this party.

    ”This is a turning point in the history of Nigeria. We are at a point where we will exchange instability for security.

    “We are at a point where we will dump poverty for prosperity, we are at a point where we will stop the wave of violence and hatred and build a truly united Nigeria; where the live of every Nigerian will count.

    “Today, 11 out of 19 states of Northern Nigeria have literarily been overrun by bandits from across the border and violence caused by agents of disunity and destruction.

    “The southern states have literarily been overtaken by kidnappers, robbers and all sorts of violence induced by the present state of the economy of the country.

    “At the bottom of these massive upheavals in the land is youth unemployment, which has climbed to about 33 to 36 percent. Now we have more youths that are unemployed than youths that are gainfully employed. The national unemployment average has also climbed to 24 percent of the population.

    “We are resolved to expand our economy to a $4trn economy within 10 years. We will restructure the way power is organised between the states and the federal government by devolving power to the states as presently constituted so that they can mobilise more local resources to address problems.

    “We will empower the states to have their own police side-by-side with the federal police, so that the internal security can be enhanced. We will create a national guard as an intermediate force between the Army and the Police so that we can restore internal security rapidly to the country.”

    Also speaking,the National Chairman of the PT, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), who declared the rally opened, said that the progressive forces in the country had resolved to deliver the presidential candidate of the party, Olawepo-Hashim in  February 16, 2019 polls.

    The progressives, according to him, have decided to rally against the present set of leaders the same   way they rallied against the military   during the battle to regain democracy.

    “We took a resolute decision to form this Movement we are seeing today. We have reunited under a broad platform called Third Force and by God’s grace and power, we will win. Let us go together,” he said.

  • 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.”

     

     

  • Peoples Trust ratifies merger with ANN

    THE Peoples Trust (PT) has ratified its merger with another political party, the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN).

    It also affirmed the candidature of Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hasim, who had earlier emerged as ANN’s presidential candidate.

    These developments took place at the weekend in Lagos during the PT’s maiden national convention. Delegates at the convention also adopted a name, the Alliance for Peoples Trust (APT), as the new identity for the political platform.

    PT National Secretary Mallam Naseer Kura said the two political parties have formed a strategic alliance to provide a credible alternative for Nigerians during the 2019 elections.

    Kura said the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) failed in 16 years to provide a credible leadership and that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has also reneged on its promises to deliver change in the last three and half years.

    He said there must be paradigm change in leadership, because the country needs people with integrity and capacity and not recycled leaders.

    The National Secretary added: “The APT is committed to offer a credible alternative to render purposeful governance. We have integrity, we have the capacity and by God’s grace, we will win in 2019.”

    Olawepo-Hasim emerged by consensus after the party’s second presidential aspirant, Olufunke Awolowo, a granddaughter of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, stepped down for him.

    Olawepo-Hasim, after receiving the party’s flag, thanked party members for choosing him to be their candidate, saying it reflected the confidence they have in him.

    He said Nigeria needed serious change in leadership to reposition and inspire people to achieve its development goals. The candidate said he has the capacity, the passion and the integrity to deliver the desired change to Nigerians.

    Olawepo Hassim also hailed the APT National Chairman, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), and its founding National Chairman, Dr. J. Osi Samuels, for putting a platform that was out to make Nigeria realise its dream for a better country.