Presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has made a powerful declaration of his steadfast dedication to Nigeria, stating that surrendering on the nation is not an option. He issued this call to action amidst the country's escalating political, economic, and security trials.
A Call for Steadfast Leadership and Citizen Action
Hashim delivered his message during a North Central zonal gathering of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, which assembled state coordinators from the region. He told the audience that Nigeria's present condition demands resolute leadership and organized civic participation. He cautioned that citizens disengaging would only hand the country's future over to incompetence, unchecked impunity, and poor governance.
He emphasized that rebuilding the nation requires discipline, a clear purpose, and persistent grassroots organisation. "Meaningful change is never accidental," Hashim stated, "it is the product of deliberate, collective effort." He charged the coordinators to deepen their engagement within local communities while holding firm to the principles of accountability, justice, and national unity.
Drawing Strength from a Lifetime of Advocacy
In a personal reflection, Hashim traced his political journey back to age 14, when he first supported the progressive parties of that era. "We were not of voting age then, but we pasted posters and sang with excitement," he recalled. He even engaged a family friend who was an NPN representative to the National Assembly in discussions about economic policy, based on his early understanding of economics and government.
This early activism set him on a path advocating for democracy and good governance, a commitment that led to his detention as a political prisoner at about 20 years old. "Almost 40 years later, we are still standing," Hashim affirmed. "We will not give up until we see the Nigeria of our dreams, by the grace of God."
Reminding Nigeria of Its Potential and a $4 Trillion Plan
Hashim also urged his supporters to educate Nigerians, particularly the youth, about the country's historical economic strengths and future possibilities. He provided striking comparisons: "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 pointed to past industrial achievements like vehicle and tractor assembly and vaccine production at the Yaba Vaccine Centre as proof of capacity. "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," he stressed. He concluded by directing them to share his ambitious $4 trillion plan for economic transformation.
The meeting concluded with coordinators renewing their pledge to the vision of a Nigeria led by competence, integrity, and inclusiveness. They agreed on strategies to boost coordination and expand the movement's reach, vowing to intensify grassroots mobilisation and political education across the North Central states and beyond.
