Former presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to Nigeria as a country, saying surrender is not an option despite the nation’s deepening political, economic and security challenges.
He spoke yesterday in Abuja during a North Central zonal meeting of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement which brought together state coordinators from across the region.
Addressing the gathering, Olwepo-Hashim said Nigeria’s current realities demand steadfast leadership, organised civic engagement and citizens who are willing to remain involved rather than retreat into apathy or despair. He warned that abandoning the country would amount to handing its future over to mediocrity, impunity and misrule.
According to him, national renewal requires discipline, clarity of purpose and sustained grassroots organisation, stressing that meaningful change is never accidental but the product of deliberate and collective effort. He urged coordinators to deepen community-level engagement while remaining anchored to the core values of accountability, justice and national unity.
The meeting reviewed the state of the movement across the North Central zone, assessed ongoing mobilisation efforts and agreed on strategies to strengthen coordination and expand the movement’s reach within the region.
Coordinators in attendance reaffirmed their commitment to the vision of a Nigeria governed by competence, integrity and inclusiveness, pledging to intensify grassroots organisation and political education across their respective states.
Olawepo-Hashim recalled his long history of political advocacy which began at the age of 14 when he became a sympathiser of progressive parties of the era.
“We were not of voting age then, but we pasted posters and sang with excitement,” he said, “As a young boy, I engaged an NPN representative to the National Assembly, who was a family friend, in discussions about economic management based on my rudimentary knowledge of economics and government.”
He explained that his early activism set him on the path of advocacy for democracy and good governance, a journey that later led to his detention as a political detainee at about the age of 20.
“Almost 40 years later, we are still standing,” he said. “We will not give up until we see the Nigeria of our dreams, by the grace of God.”
Olawepo-Hashim also urged members to remind Nigerians, particularly the youth, of the country’s past economic strengths and future possibilities.The governor said, “It has always been our tradition since we came on board to foster this kind of affinity, synergy and collaboration, because we are all one family in Bauchi. Passionately, in Bauchi, we ensure Inclusivity, fraternity and peace because we are one people.
“Today, I have the privilege to meet His Eminence the president of ECWA Worldwide. When I was growing up the only church I knew was ECWA, until later I knew there is COCIN and ERC, and then Catholic later came to my knowledge,” he said.
“And even our Muslim brothers believe that what we are doing is just and equitable. We would continue to see that we give attention to your places of worship, your places of permanent abode, the CAN secretariat and your welfare.
“The issue of engagement and employment is a must because you have the array of human capital that you require, we don’t need to go to Egypt to hire doctors, because we have doctors in Bogoro.”
Mohammed observed that the issue of non-inclusivity hitherto brought about a lot of conflicts, suspicion and mistrust among the people.
He thanked the Christian community in the state for giving his administration the support it deserves at all times, saying what the government was doing was a recognition and appreciation for what the Christian community was doing.
Mohammed explained that the appointment of Gumzaar, the traditional chief of the Sayawa community was an attestation to his administration’s value and what it stood for, stressing that “Promises made must be met”.
State CAN chairman, Reverend Abraham Damina, commended the state government for maintaining the relative peace, security and progress in the state.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Mohammed for the Christmas support extended to Christian communities across the state, as well as for ongoing development projects, the inclusion of Christians in positions of responsibility, and government interventions aimed at assisting vulnerable persons.
