Olawepo-Hashim: Na’Abba, Akeredolu’s Demise Great Loss to Nigeria’s Democracy

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has described the death of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba and former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, as a huge loss to Nigeria’s politics and democracy.

In a statement released by his media office in Abuja, Olawepo-Hashim explained that the duo were political giants who bestrode the nation’s political landscape.
He maintained that the former speaker was a patriot, selfless politician, and true democrat who sacrificed his ambition by repelling dictatorship and instituting the independence of the legislature.

He added that Na’Abba was inspiringly principled, courageous and a deeply patriotic Nigerian who was completely detribalised, tolerant, liberal, gentle and affectionate.
According to him, Nigeria and Nigerians will surely miss the great Nigerian and a selfless politician whose effort to sustain democracy and good governance in the country remains indelible.

On Akeredolu, Olawepo-Hashim stressed that the former governor of Ondo state contributed immensely in the struggle to uphold the rule of law in Nigeria through his legal practice and as president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), before venturing into partisan politics.
The former presidential candidate noted that the former Ondo State governor was a believer in the principles of true federalism and his death would remain as a great loss to the nation .

He said: “Both men I knew closely. With Na’Abba, we were in the ‘class of 1999’ together as I was active in the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling party both as a national officer and as founding chairman of the group of 54 NEC members when the late Na’Abba succeeded Salisu Buhari as speaker.

“In 2019 when I contested as president, Na’Abba with Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), co-chaired my campaign council. I shared the deep hope of full recovery with him as he struggled to survive the illness that took him at my last visit with him”.
Olawepo-Hashim prayed that God would grant the families and the loved ones of the two great Nigerians the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.