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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Former presidential candidate of the Accord Party and Co-Chairman of the Movement for Democratic Renewal, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has expressed concern over President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks during a meeting with Catholic Bishops at the State House, warning that the 2027 general election must not fall below the democratic standards established in 2015.
In a statement yesterday, Hashim said he was saddened rather than angered by the President’s public remarks, adding that after repeatedly listening to the recording, he was left deeply concerned.
According to him, the President’s public communication appeared markedly different from the Tinubu he interacted with between 2018 and 2021.
“I listened to the recording over and over again. That was not the Bola Tinubu I knew between 2018 and 2021. I was left deeply concerned. I am not making a medical diagnosis, but the President’s public communication gives me the impression that he may require genuine help.”
Hashim stressed that his comments were motivated by concern for both the President and the country rather than partisan considerations.
“Unlike many Nigerians who are angry with him, I genuinely feel pity for President Tinubu. My greatest worry is that those around him appear more interested in securing another election than in ensuring he receives the care he deserves. If they truly care for him, they should prioritise his wellbeing and the national interest above politics,” he added.
The former presidential candidate, however, cautioned that whatever challenges the President may be facing must not be allowed to undermine Nigeria’s democracy or electoral process.
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He recalled that the 2015 general election, in which former President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat and peacefully transferred power to the opposition, remains a high point in Nigeria’s democratic history.
“That election elevated Nigeria’s democratic standing before the world. Ironically, the beneficiary of that democratic maturity was the party that produced President Tinubu. History must not be reversed,” he said.
Hashim stated that the credibility of the 2027 general election would serve as a defining test for Nigeria’s democracy.
“Let it be clearly stated across Nigeria and beyond: any election that falls short of the 2015 democratic standard will not be acceptable to the Nigerian people or to Nigeria’s friends around the world.”
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and other democratic institutions to discharge their constitutional responsibilities with neutrality, professionalism, and strict adherence to the rule of law.
“The credibility of the 2027 election will determine the future of our democracy. Nigeria needs free, fair, and credible elections, not coronations. Our institutions must serve the Constitution, not any individual or political party,” he said.
Hashim maintained that Nigeria’s democracy is greater than any government, political party, or individual ambition, warning against attempts by what he described as political cabals to weaken democratic institutions.
“This is a defining moment. We owe future generations a democracy stronger than the one we inherited. Nigeria must move forward, not backwards,” he added.
