I pity Tinubu but more concerned for Nigeria: OLAWEPO-Hashim

In a candid and heartfelt statement, presidential candidate Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim expressed deep concern and sadness over President Bola Tinubu's recent remarks during a meeting with Catholic Bishops at the State House, Abuja. Unlike many Nigerians who are angry with the president, Olawepo-Hashim admitted to feeling pity for him, citing a marked difference between the Tinubu he heard and the man he interacted with between 2018 and 2021.

Olawepo-Hashim's concern is not about politics, but about the human factor. He believes that those around the president are more interested in securing another election than in giving him the attention he deserves. This, he argues, is a worrying trend that could undermine Nigeria's democracy and stability. The implications are stark: if the president's entourage prioritizes politics over his wellbeing, what happens when the chips are down? Will they put the national interest above their own ambitions?

Olawepo-Hashim warns that the 2027 general election must meet and surpass the democratic standard set in 2015. It was a historic moment when then-President Goodluck Jonathan accepted defeat, conceded the election, and peacefully transferred power to the opposition. This act elevated Nigeria's democratic standing before the world and set a benchmark for future elections. The irony, of course, is that the beneficiary of that democratic maturity was the party that produced President Tinubu. History must not now be reversed, Olawepo-Hashim cautions.

The stakes are high, and Nigeria's reputation is at risk. If the 2027 election falls short of the 2015 standard, it will not be acceptable to the Nigerian people or to Nigeria's friends across the world. This is a stark warning to the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, and all democratic institutions. The message is clear: Nigeria must not return to the dark era of election rigging and political instability.

Olawepo-Hashim's call to action is straightforward: the 2027 election must be free, fair, and credible. Anything less will be a betrayal of the democratic ideals enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. The eyes of the world are on Nigeria, and the nation's reputation hangs in the balance. As Olawepo-Hashim so aptly puts it, "any election that falls short of the 2015 democratic standard will not be acceptable to the Nigerian people or to Nigeria's friends across the world."

As I ponder Olawepo-Hashim's words, I am reminded of the Tinubu enigma. Is this the same man who has been at the helm of Nigeria's affairs since May 2023? The one who has been touted as a seasoned politician, a master strategist, and a champion of democracy? Or is this a different Tinubu, one who is struggling to cope with the pressures of the presidency? Whatever the answer, one thing is clear: Nigeria's democracy is at stake, and the nation's reputation hangs in the balance. As Olawepo-Hashim so eloquently puts it, "I pity Tinubu, but I am more concerned for Nigeria."