A former presidential candidate and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, held separate high-level meetings with ex-President, Olusegun Obasanjo and former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.).
Naijaonpoint learnt that the closed-door meetings held on Monday are part of Hashim’s ongoing nationwide engagements with elder politicians and key national figures to discuss Nigeria’s future direction ahead of the 2027 general election.
Hashim reportedly arrived at Obasanjo’s residence in Abeokuta at about 11:00 a.m. and departed roughly an hour later, and subsequently travelled to Minna, where he met with General Babangida.
Hashim was accompanied on the visits by the Chairman of the North Central Renaissance Movement, Nghargbu K’tsɔ, as well as other aides.
During the consultations, Hashim assured both former leaders of his capacity to address Nigeria’s security challenges, rebuild national unity, stabilise the political environment, and restore economic prosperity.
He reportedly stressed that Nigeria urgently needs purposeful, inclusive, and unifying leadership to avert deeper national fractures.
During the Minna meeting, Hashim reportedly invoked Babangida’s historic role in preserving Nigeria’s unity, citing the sacrifices made during the civil war.
He emphasised that the 2027 election must be centred on national rescue, warning that continued leadership failure could further endanger the country’s cohesion and stability.
He added, “General, you still carry in your body the wounds of the war fought to keep Nigeria one. Many of your colleagues were not fortunate to survive that struggle.
“If Nigeria is allowed to disintegrate today through incompetent leadership, then the sacrifices of patriots like you would have been wasted.”
Both Obasanjo and Babangida, though non-partisan, are widely regarded as influential elder statesmen who remain deeply invested in Nigeria’s unity and stability, having played defining roles in the country’s political and military history.