Is Olawepo-Hashim Among the Prophets?

Oluwasegun Abifarin highlights some of the good political decisions made by former Presidential candidate and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim

Saul was the first king of Israel who reigned between 1020 to 1000 BCE. According to the biblical account found mainly in the Book of First Samuel, he became king at a time the nation of Israel badly needed the unity of the 12 tribes to wade off the threat to their collective existence.

His ascension to the throne was equally dramatic in the sense that after his anointing by Prophet Samuel, he became “another man” on an extra-ordinary mission, with an extra-ordinary vision. A band of prophets who later met him was shocked by the “new creature”, and asked: What has happened to the son of Kish; Is Saul among the prophet?

Like the nation of Israel, Nigeria is presently at a crossroad when it needs the unity of all stakeholders to surmount the current challenges; and in times like this, leaders are defined mostly by their vision and mission statements.

In terms of clarity of vision and mission, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former presidential candidate and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) appears to be the most vocal and engaging political leader in the political space, discussing critical issues of statehood, economic development and national unity and proffering solutions on how to advance the country and keep it safe.

In the recent report released by Grand Plan, a Research and new media Communication outfit, Olawepo-Hashim is only behind incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari who is finishing his second term in office in 2023.

The social media rating of political engagements on Facebook platform, which was released recently showed that President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim are leading as the most engaging political leaders in the country.

The latest data according to Grand Plan’s Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat showed that, Mr. Olawepo-Hashim was ahead of all other political figures, including former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Chairman of Nigeria’s Governor’s Forum, Kayode Fayemi and Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and others.

“At a time when the country is in need of real leaders, Olawepo Hashim has stepped forward early enough, with clarity of thought and serious governance proposals, putting his ideas forward to the Nigerian people for scrutiny”. Hamzat said.

For instance, since September, Olawepo-Hashim has muted the idea of a release for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed IPOB before the issue came to the burner in Aso Rock last week.

Olawepo-Hashim actually described the demand for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, as a good step towards consolidating national unity and reconciliation.

Receiving a group under the aegis of Highly Respected Igbo Greats, led by First Republic parliamentarian and Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, at State House, Abuja, last Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari said though “the demand for an unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, currently standing trial, is heavy and runs contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers,” but he “will consider it.”

But Olawepo-Hashim explained that “the state has the power of Nolle prosequi through the office of the Attorney General to discontinue any prosecution in the national interest especially in this context in exchange for peaceful conduct.”

Similarly, when he visited Kwara state early this month, he met Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and reiterated that that the gains that came with the liberation of Kwara State in the 2015 election must never be reversed despite the current schism by some political stakeholders in the State. Olawepo-Hasim expressed confidence that the crisis will be resolved “as a family affair in a family way, and enjoined the feuding parties to sheath their swords in the larger interest of the people of the state.

Almost one clear month after this prophesy, it appears Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, “National Leader” of the party is joining into the process when reportedly met with Kwara stakeholders early this week in Abuja to cement the crack.

The Value Added Tax also raised a huge dust recently, but Olawepo-Hashim had a position: He had two months ago, maintained that while the current controversy over who should collect VAT between states and Federal Government remains the latest mud thrown into Nigeria’s political water in an attempt to muddle the water more, he argued that what the country need presently is a VAT collection and distribution system that will benefit all.

He added that those who have “managed the information about the VAT wars have created the impression that the present distribution benefits the Northern States more than the Southern States. They try to make it look like the VAT is part of the “hegemonic domination” of the North. Many commentators hardly look at the data before they hit their keyboards online. Many swallowed hook line and sinker very obvious lies.”

And last week, according to report by The Cable, the total value-added tax (VAT) generated by the Kano state government in the first eight months of 2021 was higher than what was generated by the entire south-east region.

The South-east region consists of five states namely: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.

Kano generated total VAT revenue of N24.4 billion while the entire South-east region generated N21.23 billion.

Aside this, the former presidential candidate has a sketch of the type of president Nigerians should push for in 2023. According to him, there is need for “a true Nigeria President that will see all Nigeria as his constituency and will do justice to all regardless of ethnic or religious persuasion.”

He insisted that what Nigeria truly needs now is a true Nigerian president; and that the next president of Nigeria must be ready to create the environment for jobs for our young people, who currently have 54% of them (between ages 15 and 25) unemployed.

He also maintained that the “challenges confronting Nigeria are larger than any particular party in government or in opposition, they are bigger than any group’s interest or ambition, they require the goodwill of all patriots to resolve, and our best collective wisdom as a people.”

According to him, “the nation is on fire and we must put it out right now! Nigeria’s political leaders across political lines in government and out of government must urgently arrive at a consensus to secure the country and return it to a path of peace and unity so as to give hope to the citizens who desperately need to be assured that their father land can still work for them.”

He therefore listed a six point agenda as a pathway to security and peace in our land. These include:

Establish a Defence Co-operation Agreement (DCA) with a friendly nation to halt the enemy’s advance. Those who are fighting Nigeria are from all over the world, the enemy is multinational in its composition.
We must put our house in order by resolving internal wrangling through dialogue, fairness, and justice.
We must have a broad-based cabinet that can inspire hope, efficiency, and national unity.
We must immediately create the framework for States and Local Governments to have their own police.
All states should have concurrent jurisdiction over mineral resources within their state and pay taxes to the Federal purse.
We must decentralize electricity generation, transmission via local grid and distribution. This should be on the concurrent list.
“Time is running out for orderly resolution of the issues giving leadership on a road-map for peace and security at this critical time is the least we owe our people who have suffered too much deprivation. Every leader must get up to be counted,” Olawepo Hashim said.

The APC Chieftain has called for a return to politics of ideology to save our dear nation, adding that politics of no ideology, no value, no character no principle has impoverished the people, divided the nation and created hopelessness and apathy.

According to him, as a result of the now absence of ideological and value driven politics, some crooks, empty and ignorant people have assumed political offices at various levels. A regime of political packaging of those who have helped themselves with the public funds have been imposed on the nation, common thieves are coronated as heroes.

Olawepo-Hashim is a Global Energy Executive and founding Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He is one of the few Nigeria leaders who combine solid business record with strong political background.

In 1988, he was elected one of the leaders of the very active National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), and was incarcerated under the Detention of Persons Decree 2 of 1984 (as amended in 1989), as a result of his leadership role in 1989 Anti-SAP protests, and his Pro-Democracy activities.

The Amnesty International adopted him as a Prisoner of Conscience for Nigeria in 1989. He was also a notable Pro-Democracy figure in the then Global Pro-Democracy resistance of the late ‘80s and a respected Youth leadership voice from Africa. He played prominent role in the 13th International Festival of Youths and Students in 1989.

Mentored into partisan politics by the progressive stock of politician led by the duo of Late Chief Solomon Lar and Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Olawepo-Hashim had onetime functioned as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Democratic Party, under the joint chairmanship of Ambassador Jolly Tanko Yusuf and Alhaji Yunusa Kaltungo.

In 1998, working closely under the supervision of Professor Jerry Gana (Secretary), he and two other young political leaders; Late Senator Dahiru Ahwesu Khuta (Administration) and Dubem Onyia (Organization), helped in the years of the G-34 initiative, in the formation of political parties.

After the election of President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, in the intervening transitional period, Olawepo-Hashim served as member/Secretary Youth and Women Development Sub-Committee of the General T.Y. Danjuma Policy Advisory Committee with Late Hajia Laila Dogonyaro as chairman of the Youth and Women Sub-committee.

In 1999, Gbenga was elected as the first Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the then ruling Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was a highly influential national officer and became the founding chairman of the Group of 54 NEC members.

He was known for his commitment to the principle of internal democracy in the party, transparency and good governance. As a national officer, he spoke truth to power then at great risks.

He was appointed in 2003, as a member of the Political Advisory Committee to the President (In the office of the Political Advisor). He however resigned from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2006.

According to him, he decided to join the APC in February this year because he “saw a genuine and honest commitment on the part of a more energised President Buhari, GCFR to leave a legacy of peace, security and democratic consolidation.”

He listed what he called the “quick gains in this direction” to include:

The now settled introduction of electronic transmission of results of Election making for cleaner elections as seen in the last Anambra Election; the possibility of Direct Primaries for the election of party candidates to return power to the people particularly young people and the increasing progress in the fight against banditry and terrorism.

Other gains include the Presidential initiative for Judicial and Legislative Autonomy at the State levels to ensure Separation of powers, accountability and democratic consolidation and the Presidential initiative for Autonomy of state Legislatures, Local Government Autonomy and community policing.

He therefore noted that “the President needs all the encouragement and support he can get in this direction”, adding that “no President can solve all problems in a tenure, and if these minimum are achieved, this would be a new beginning”.

*Abifarin, Team Leader at Newsroom Nigeria, writes from Lagos