₦airaland Forum

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*This is the gospel truth*
By Abdulrazaq Hamzat

_*Just like walahi talahi, an Arabic phrase for "I swear with God", which is often invoked to convince people about the truthfulness of a claim, the word "truth" today, as become another walahi talahi, which has been bastardized and hijacked by people with no morality, no sense of fairness or justice, no sense of patriotism or even understanding of issues they intend to speak on.*_

This days, everybody claim to be speaking truth.

The good people, the bad people and even the urgly ones will tell you, "we are speaking the truth".

It doesn't matter if they distort information, try to exploit the situation and outrightly concort illusionary tales to deceive gullible readers and listeniners, they will still proclaim before all, "I am speaking the truth".

The saints, the sinners and those in between have also become the vanguard of this so called truth.

To make every falsehood and nonesenical opinion believable, we call it "truth".

Even the thieves, betrayers, dishonest, corrupt, unpatriotic and outrightly ignorant and confused individuals will beat their chest in public conversation and say to the world, this is the gospel truth.

So, what is this truth that they are proclaiming?

Their opinion. Informed or uninformed. That is what they call truth.

You get me right, their own opinion is the truth that they proclaim and those of others are not.

About 10 years ago, presicely on 19th May 2012, at a program hosted by the Nigerian Youth Forum (NYF) in Kaduna, i delivered a speech titled ‘’The Truth About Nigeria’’.

In that speech, I said:

"Truth is the solution to all problems, without it, no measure works".

I went further to state that, truth must never be substituted if we truly want to progress as a nation. This is so because, when we avoid telling truth as it should, that is when the nation crumbles upon itself.

I pointed out further that, some people might tell half truth in some cases, but even with that, progress may be delayed, because when we avoid telling truth as it should be told, we are preventing progress as we should progress.

However, about 5 years ago, specifically on April 12, 2017, after observing and learning from life events as they unfold in the country, i expanded the scope of my truth phylosophy in another publication titled, "Truth is not Enough", where i said, truth alone is not enough. It must be accompanied with mercy and reconciliation.

In that publication, i said:

We must all develop the habit of having mercy with each other and being able and willing to reconcile our differences. We must not continue to live as friendly enemies, suspecting each other of certain ulterior motives every time. Rather, we must improve our relationship to that of partners, always struggling to make our relationship work better.

I went on to quote Lederach (1997) who said:

“Truth and Mercy have met together. Justice and Peace have kissed”.

The above analogy by Laderach was used as themes to guide one in better understanding the components that aid long lasting reconciliation.

He concluded by saying, “Without the person of truth, conflict will never be resolved. Yet, truth alone leaves us Unclad, vulnerable and unworthy.”

"On Mercy, images emerged of compassion, forgiveness, acceptance and a new start. Without the person of mercy, healthy relationships would not be possible.

And without compassion and forgiveness, healing and restoration would not be possible.

Yet, mercy alone is superficial because it covers up too quickly.

Then came the role of reconciliation.

Reconciliation is a procedure that moves us away from hatred and prejudice of the past towards building structures and procedures for establishing durable peace with adversaries once groups have entered a post- settlement phase (Ackerman, 1994).

Today, people who do not live a truthful life of their own, claim to be vanguard of societal truth. Those who have no understanding of substance, claim to be speaking it's truth.

We are at such a time that the mere invocking of the word "truth" is seen as the ticket to legitimacy and every ignorant and dishonest postulations is described as truth by the perveyor.

Just like walahi talahi, an Arabic phrase for "I swear with God", which is often invoked to convince people about the truthfulness of a claim, the word "truth" today, as become another walahi talahi, which has been bastardized and hijacked by people with no morality, no sense of fairness or justice, no sense of patriotism or even understanding of issues they intend to speak on.

Absence of any substance, quality reasoning and appreciable understanding of issues, people who wants to convince you to swallow their half baked opinion would claim to be speaking truth, to give it some justification or give themselves some legitimacy.

So, when they speak and their position is questioned for its weakness and lack of substance, they will declare, I am speaking the truth.

But unknown to them, truth is self evident. It doesn't need to be proclaimed as such. It is not just a word that you throw around with the aim of convincing people, it has characteristics of clarity, fact, sincerity, fairness, justice and indisputability.

So, whether you say it is truth or not, provided these qualities are seen, truth will be established.

*Abdulrazaq Hamzat writes from Abuja*

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*WE ARE NIGERIANISTS NOT JUST NIGERIANS- Gbenga Olawepo Hashim*

On 22 April, 1990, Late Major Gideon Orkar in an attempted coup, made a broadcast that North-Eastern and North-Western parts of Nigeria had been excised from ‘main’ Nigeria.

In the early hours of the morning of 22nd of April, my colleagues and I in the student/youth vanguard movement, Patriotic Youth Movement of Nigeria (PYNN) were in a consultative meeting with the Leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). This was at the Nelson Mandela secretariat headed by its President, Opeyemi Bamidele. I was part of the immediate past NANS Exco that just handed over to the Opeyemi’s leadership. Some excited students intoxicated by the repeated broadcast by Orkar who had seized control from Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FCRN) in Ikoyi Lagos, (when Lagos was still the seat of power), rushed to NANS Secretariat calling for support of the coupist.

Some of the students were arguing that after all, Orkar had offered NANS and the Youth representatives’ seats in his provisional ruling council. Of course in that era, every political group was wooing the leadership of the student’s association which at that time after the two weeks long anti-sap uprising, became effectively the main opposition movement in the country in alliance with a section of the radical intelligentstia and radical bar.

The students in record numbers came with assorted maps of Orkar’s new Nigeria, chanting solidarity and war songs. They were specifically infuriated by counter broadcast at the Bendel Radio by Colonel Odeleke, they demanded leadership from NANS to storm the broadcast station in Benin and chase Odeleke and his troops away from the Bendel State Broadcasting Station.

After brief deliberation, we took a position against the coup, especially as it concerns the excising of the North-East and North-West of Nigeria. Our major task was how to contain the students in their numbers who were chanting ‘ACTION’.

It was my lot to bring these students under control and skillfully divert their energies to our point of view, it was a tough call as Bamidele approached me and said “Comrade you have the popularity as the hero of the last uprising, they will trust you.” God helped me, I did the job; we contained the students ,the NANS opposed the coup, rejected the offer of seat in Orkar’s ruling council, the coup collapsed.

Why did we do what we did?

We did so because we are Patriotic Nigerians; who despite our opposition to the military government of the day believed in the indissolubility and indivisibility of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We are not just Nigerians who love their country, we are Nigerianists, who are fundamentally committed to the preservation of the unity of Nigeria.

As it was then in 1990, our position on the unity of the country remains the same, we know that our country faces enormous challenges, but this is not because we are multi-ethnic; America and India are multi-ethnic too. We believe that whatever it is that is wrong with Nigeria can be corrected within Nigeria by devolving powers to the sub-national components of the Nigerian state (Local and State Government) for a more efficient federation.

With increased visionary leadership, elected into various offices and increasing enlightenment and attitudinal change of the citizens, the latent potential of this great Nation will be transformed into concrete reality.

We are firm believers in the possibility of the greatness of Nigeria, Africa’s best hope; that is why we are NIGERIANISTS.

https://newsroomnigeria.com/2021/08/14/opinion-between-nigerianists-and-nigerians-by-gbenga-olawepo-hashim/

Moferere:
Personality?
Who?
Your Boss?
Laughable.

My point is clear, between 1999 and now, your boss has jumped from PDP to APC to PT to APC.
He lacks the moral right to talk about politics based on ideology.

You have not been able to defend that. Instead, you embark on a rigmarole. Dribbling yourself about.

If you cannot get a simple fact you can get on Google right, tell me, what can you get right?

*YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK- Gbenga Olawepo Hashim*

"A man's life is what his thoughts make of it"- stoic Roman Emperor Marcus

The above title is a direct quote from Omar Itani. It is the quality of thoughts of a group of people that will determine the quality of their lives, their politics their welfare, wellbeing, etc.

If you have already condemned yourself as nothing, then you will amount to nothing.
The Holy Bible says "As a man thinketh in his heart so he is." (Proverb 23:7).

We are believers in a better Nigeria and by the Grace of God we shall live to see it.
Nigeria has achieved great things in the past, even in the midst of huge challenges. We believe our great nation will yet achieve renewal and restoration.

My generation did not believe we could not end military rule. But we eventually fought against it until it was over, just like our grandparents fought and ended colonial rule!

This generation must stand to make Nigeria great again. Thankfully you do not need to fight. All you need to do is to think right and act right and change your mindset about your country.

The Holy Quran states also: "Indeed Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them beside him a patron." (Quran 13:11).

Majority have decided for a better Nigeria, let the minority join the ship. Change your mindset!

#ChangeYourMindset
#NewGloryForNigeria
#BetterTogetherWithHashim

Moferere:
It will have nothing to do with your political party as far as your ọga is concerned.

If you have no substance to engage the issues, you resort to personality

*IYD2021: Criticize Govt with facts and figures to improve public service, Kwara Must Change urges Youth*

A leading Pro Democracy group in Kwara State, Kwara Must Change has advised youths to criticize government with facts and figures, so that their criticism can lead to imprọvement and better governance for the people.

The group also said that, fabricating none existing falsehood against government under the guise of criticism doesn't depict youths in positive light, adding that such situation will not add value to governance or improve the life of the populace.

In a statement by the Convener of Kwara Must Change, Abdulrazaq Hamzat to celebrate the International Youth Day 2021, the group stated that criticism based on facts and figures is the best service any citizen can offer to the government.

According to Hamzat, criticism is the expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of perceived faults or mistakes, adding that the analysis and judgement of the merits and faults of an action or inaction has to be established, with clarity and better alternative to aid process of development.

Hamzat explain that, youths have energy and capacity needed to drive growth, development and productivity. However, youths also have limited indepth understanding of complex information, prone to manipulation from political machination and easily carried away with sensationalism, thereby making the youths a delicate demography.

"As youths, we must therefore know that, no matter what we think we know, we are yet to really know much and we should always make ourselves readily available to learn and understand issues, not hold unto surface knowledge, which makes us easily manipulated by people with vested interest".

As we celebrate the international youth day 2021 with the theme “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”, we urge our fellow youths to improve our information seeking habit, not only to enable us innovate and transform the food and health system, but to also help us make better decision in our personal and corporate lives. Hamzat said.

Racoon:
Meanwhile, this political prostitute thinks he have any political ideology when he went awhoring by defecting to the same APC he has been criticizing all along? Guess he will catch up with the blame game and distortion of the truth traits which are the unique features of anyone therein?

Ideology is a concept you stand for.

It has nothing to do with the political party you belong.

If one party doesn't accommodate your ideology, isn't it only reasonable and sensible to go to another platform that maybe more receptive to your ideology?

Moferere:
Just look at who is talking.
You jumped from PDP — APC — PT — APC and you are here talking about ideology.
O wrong nau

Ideology is a concept you stand for.

It has nothing to do with the political party you belong.

If one party doesn't accommodate your ideology, isn't it only reasonable and sensible to go to another platform that maybe more receptive to your ideology?

How politics of no ideology destroys Nigeria ― Olawepo-Hashim

By Sanya Adejokun, Abuja
On Aug 10, 2021

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has decried the absence of ideology within the political space, saying it was destroying Nigeria in many ramifications.

He, therefore, advocated for a return to politics of ideology ahead of the 2023 general election.

Olawepo-Hashim then declared himself as a core progressive whose ideological platform is to bridge the gap between the extremely rich and the poor, restore transparency and accountability in governance, return the country to a path of ethical practices of modest lifestyle especially of officers of government.


“We stand for rapid social development through the provision and access to education to all Nigerian children, universal health care delivery, and full employment.

“Politics of no ideology, no value, no character no principle has impoverished the people, divided the nation and created hopelessness and apathy. It’s time to return to politics of ideology to save our dear nation,” he said.

In a statement entitled ‘TIME TO RETURN TO IDEOLOGICAL POLITICS’ on Tuesday, the former presidential candidate said one of the greatest setbacks that befell politics in the past 32 years in Nigeria, was the practice of electing people into offices without any definite political programme, principles and set of values as it was in the first and 2nd Republic.

“In the First Republic, there were clear political guidelines, philosophy and roadmap that distinguished most political actors forming the basis for electorates to make informed political choices.

“Most people did not become leaders simply because they felt like stepping to public office as a new title for vain or egoistic pursuits. That brand of elevated politics made for rapid development of the country at the end of colonial rule.”

“As a result of the now absence of ideological and value-driven politics, some crooks, empty and ignorant people have assumed political offices at various levels.

“Mundane and negative issues such as tribal cleavages, thuggery, money, evil oaths of loyalty administered by power brokers have become the main drivers of the political contest since the electorate cannot establish pragmatic differences between most contenders.”

According to the energy executive, a regime of political packaging of those who have helped themselves with the public till, have been imposed on the nation, common thieves are coronated as heroes and political leaders and a society that has acquise to this perfidy, come back quickly to complain of lack of performance at different levels of governance.

“It’s time to return to politics of ideology to save our dear nation. The electorate have to be presented with clear choices based on a roadmap for social and economic development.

“The scrutiny and examination of the histories, values antecedents of contestants must form one of the bases for political leadership recruitment. That was the way politics delivered value in the First Republic and that is the way politics delivers in advance nations.”

He insisted that “societies cannot be moulded and guided and guided into growth by inordinate of individuals but clear principles that have evolved over time, tested and practised not ill-digested thought of persons.

“Only clear ideological paths are fit enough as touch-lights to the future of millions of people.

“We believe in devolution of powers to the subnational governments in the nation (state and local government) away from over-centralization.”

https://tribuneonlineng.com/how-politics-of-no-ideology-destroys-nigeria-%E2%80%95-olawepo-hashim/amp/

How politics of no ideology destroys Nigeria ― Olawepo-Hashim

By Sanya Adejokun, Abuja
On Aug 10, 2021

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has decried the absence of ideology within the political space, saying it was destroying Nigeria in many ramifications.

He, therefore, advocated for a return to politics of ideology ahead of the 2023 general election.

Olawepo-Hashim then declared himself as a core progressive whose ideological platform is to bridge the gap between the extremely rich and the poor, restore transparency and accountability in governance, return the country to a path of ethical practices of modest lifestyle especially of officers of government.


“We stand for rapid social development through the provision and access to education to all Nigerian children, universal health care delivery, and full employment.

“Politics of no ideology, no value, no character no principle has impoverished the people, divided the nation and created hopelessness and apathy. It’s time to return to politics of ideology to save our dear nation,” he said.

In a statement entitled ‘TIME TO RETURN TO IDEOLOGICAL POLITICS’ on Tuesday, the former presidential candidate said one of the greatest setbacks that befell politics in the past 32 years in Nigeria, was the practice of electing people into offices without any definite political programme, principles and set of values as it was in the first and 2nd Republic.

“In the First Republic, there were clear political guidelines, philosophy and roadmap that distinguished most political actors forming the basis for electorates to make informed political choices.

“Most people did not become leaders simply because they felt like stepping to public office as a new title for vain or egoistic pursuits. That brand of elevated politics made for rapid development of the country at the end of colonial rule.”

“As a result of the now absence of ideological and value-driven politics, some crooks, empty and ignorant people have assumed political offices at various levels.

“Mundane and negative issues such as tribal cleavages, thuggery, money, evil oaths of loyalty administered by power brokers have become the main drivers of the political contest since the electorate cannot establish pragmatic differences between most contenders.”

According to the energy executive, a regime of political packaging of those who have helped themselves with the public till, have been imposed on the nation, common thieves are coronated as heroes and political leaders and a society that has acquise to this perfidy, come back quickly to complain of lack of performance at different levels of governance.

“It’s time to return to politics of ideology to save our dear nation. The electorate have to be presented with clear choices based on a roadmap for social and economic development.

“The scrutiny and examination of the histories, values antecedents of contestants must form one of the bases for political leadership recruitment. That was the way politics delivered value in the First Republic and that is the way politics delivers in advance nations.”

He insisted that “societies cannot be moulded and guided and guided into growth by inordinate of individuals but clear principles that have evolved over time, tested and practised not ill-digested thought of persons.

“Only clear ideological paths are fit enough as touch-lights to the future of millions of people.

“We believe in devolution of powers to the subnational governments in the nation (state and local government) away from over-centralization.”

https://tribuneonlineng.com/how-politics-of-no-ideology-destroys-nigeria-%E2%80%95-olawepo-hashim/amp/

*Who Are Nigeria’s Most Engaging Politicians on Social Media?*

_Nseobong Okon-Ekong presents a new media, baseline research by communication outfit, Grand Plan, which rates the engagement of 2023 presidential hopefuls on social media_
Abuja-based new media communications outfit, Grand Plan may have set itself up for severe criticism with its recent report that projects President Muhammadu Buhari as the most engaging Nigerian leader on Facebook. This immediately sparked arguments. How can Buhari who is hardly visible be adjudged the most engaging Nigerian political personality on Facebook? The confirmation of the Buhari persona on Facebook is not necessarily about what the President can accomplish in person, rather it is about his office. The Office of the President of Nigeria is driven by multitalented resource persons paid to serve and make him look good in the eyes of right thinking members of the public. They go to any length to discharge their responsibility.


Of course, one of the best known presidential staff with this brief is Ms. Lauretta Onochie, whose duty it is to mind Mr. President’s image on Social Media. Incidentally, she thrives on controversies, the latest of which was her nomination as National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This set off a protest that shook federal legislators to their bones. Eventually, her nomination was rejected. Onochie and her team, have been adjudged excellent. To their credit, they have been able to rake in 966k followers on Facebook for Mr. President. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has 856k followers. Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has 906k followers, while Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, former presidential candidate of Peoples Trust in the 2019 presidential election has 187k followers.


Since the race for who becomes Nigeria’s president in 2023 has begun in earnest, different stakeholders and individuals jostling for political advantage. Politicians across all divides and regions are engaging the populace on social media to sell their candidature. This is where Grand Plan has come in with a new monthly social media engagement report.

It must be emphasized the Grand Plan assessment is purely based on social media engagement. The communications outfit did not deploy mixed methods of social media studies conducted with established methods such as interviews, surveys, focus groups, or content analysis.


The research and new media communication outfit, which spoke through its Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat said that, the monthly social media engagement ratings will help keep tab on activities of political leaders in the country. It looks at what information must be considered and analyzed to establish a baseline or starting point, the benchmark against which future progress can be assessed or comparisons made; particularly on how the public engage the political leaders on issues raised by them on their Facebook Page.

Grand Plan seeks to provide information base against which to monitor and assess these political leaders’ activities on Facebook; particularly their progress and effectiveness when a new topic of discourse (or post) is made and after a new activity (topic of discourse/post) is generated.


Following ban on popular micro blogging platform, Twitter few months ago, Nigerian politicians have become more active on Facebook and most of them have made the platform their preferred medium of communication with the people.

Facebook is the most popular social media platform in the world, with over 2.8 billion users. It is also by far, the most popular social media platform in Nigeria with over 65 percent control.

“While there are over 104 million internet users in Nigeria, only 33million of them are on social media with Facebook, having over 30 percent of the total internet users and more than 95 percent of social media users, with its over 31 million Facebook users in Nigeria, some of whom also use other social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapechat and Tiktok.


As 2023 general election in Nigeria approaches and the search for President Muhammed Buhari’s succesor tickens, a former presidential candidate, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo Hashim has emerged most vocal and engaging political leader on cyberspace, discussing critical issues of statehood, economic development and national unity and proferring solutions on how to advance the country and keep it safe.

In the recent report released by Grand Plan, Olawepo-Hashim is only behind incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari who is finishing his second term in office in 2023.


The monthly social media rating of political engagements on Facebook platform showed that President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim are leading as the most engaging political leaders in the country.

The latest data by Grand Plan showed that, Mr. Olawepo-Hashim was behind President Buhari and ahead of all other political figures, including former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Chairman of Nigeria’s Governor’s Forum, Kayode Fayemi and Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and others.


According to statistics by Grand Plan, President Muhammed Buhari maintained the top position with over 296,000+ engagement, followed by Olawepo Hashim with 98,000+ engagement.

Data released in the last week of July in Abuja by Grand Plan, shows that other political figures and presidential hopefuls such as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar recorded 53,000+ engagement, Dr. Bukola Saraki recorded 48,000+engagement.

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, who has also indicated interest in the presidency recorded 37,000+ engagement and Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi had only 6000+ engagement on the tech giant platform, Facebook.


Grand Plan maintained that, the data on each of the candidates’ were realistic because “Facebook represents the broad spectrum of voters who will vote in 2023.”

According to Hamzat, “increasing engagements imply voters’ growing interest in the candidates while a decreasing result reflects voters’ disenchantment.

Additionally, contrary to popular belief which claimed that suspended microblogging platform, Twitter is the platform for youths in the country, available records show that, Facebook still remains the dominant social media platform for young adults, Hamzat said.


According to him, “65 percent of Facebook users are under the age of 35, which means that they fall under the age demographic of millennials and Generation Z.

“It is also important to note that, between 25 to 34 year olds accounted for 32.5 percent of Facebook users, whereas just 2.9 percent of users were aged between 55 and 64 years old.”

Grand Plan noted that, Olawepo-Hashim’s growing engagement is a measure of voters’ interest in him ahead of 2023, as he discusses policy issues that many consider important.


“At a time when the country is in need of real leaders, Olawepo-Hashim has stepped forward early enough, with clarity of thought and serious governance proposals, putting his ideas forward to the Nigerian people for scrutiny,” Hamzat said.

The monthly social media rating of political figures by Grand Plan will be released last week of every month.

QUOTE

The latest data by Grand Plan showed that, Mr. Olawepo-Hashim was behind President Buhari and ahead of all other political figures, including former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Chairman of Nigeria’s Governor’s Forum, Kayode Fayemi and Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and others. According to statistics by Grand Plan, President Muhammed Buhari maintained the top position with over 296,000+ engagement, followed by Olawepo Hashim with 98,000+ engagement.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/09/who-are-nigerias-most-engaging-politicians-on-social-media/

*Kwara Must Change set agenda for new Police Commissioner*

_Says police officers are not worse than any of us_

A leading Pro Democracy group in Kwara State, Kwara Must Change has welcome the new police commissioner posted to Kwara State, CP Emienbo Tuesday Assayamo to the state.

The group also assured the new CP of a good time in Kwara, nothing that the relationship between police and the people of Kwara State is characterized by mutual collaboration.

In a statement by the Convener of Kwara Must Change, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group stated that, "we welcome CP Emienbo Tuesday Assayamo to the state of harmony and assure him that he's going to have a good time here, even though he came at a very challenging time for the nations security.

According to Hamzat, Kwara is the state of harmony and its people are generally peaceful and law abiding, adding that the police will have all Kwarans behind them while dealing with the few criminal elements.

"Although, the development in the country in recent time calls for vigilance and proactiveness, we still consider Kwara as one of the most peaceful states in the country and the people are always willing to assist the police in performing its responsibility".

Hamzat noted that, the Kwara State police command has been very active and responsive and we beleive the police will continue to improve its professional conduct under the watch of the new CP.

"While it is true that much more is required from the police in terms of security of lives and property, compliance to human rights and code of conduct, we still believe that with consistent engagement and sensitization, the police will continue to imprọve to serve the nation better".

Hamzat also explained that, Kwara Must Change understand that Police are inadequate in many ways, but the truth of the matter is that, they are a reflection of our society and therefore, we cannot single them out for crucification.

"In reality, police officers are not different from many of us, they are not worse than any of us and infact, they are us". Hamzat said.

Kwara Must Change therefore task the new commissioner to work more on improving the professional conduct of the officers, while discharging their lawful duties to get rid of criminals in our society.

End

*Olawepo Hashim explains how APC can lead to a New Nigeria*

_My mission in APC is to become ideological wing he says_


Full statement

Wednesday August 4th, 2021 was beautiful. To the glory of God, we stepped out publicly for the first time, to identify with the All Progressives Congress (APC), my chosen party at the Stakeholders' Meeting of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the party.

I thank thousands of followers who registered their support for the move and those who volunteered their comments on this page.

From the comments posted on this page, 80% of commentators endorsed steps taken so far. About 10 percent are skeptical while the rest 10 percent are opposed.

Of the ones opposed a very few were abusive of the code of engagement on this page which is decency and respect for other people's opinion even as you express yours.

All the same, I am grateful for all the contributions, for and against. I have been associated with politics since I was 15 years old as we pasted posters and cheered politicians of the progressive fold in the early 1980's.

In the mid 1980's, I stepped into activism and pro democracy struggles against the military government and was under solitary confinement in 1989.

In 1996, during the botched Abacha transition programme, I was elected National Publicity Secretary of National Democratic Labour Party. Abacha did not register our party so we teamed up with the Social Progressive Party led by late Kano state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Chief Solomon Lar, Dr. Ezekiel Ezeogu and others.

Abacha eventually died and with great leaders like Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, a former Central Bank Governor, Alhaji Abubarkar Rimi, Chief Solomon Lar, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Prof. Jerry Gana and others, we formed the largest party in Africa in 1998, PDP and I was elected its first Deputy National Publicity Secretary.

Unfortunately, those of us who were idealistic about the much better country we wanted to build were quickly shoved aside by other more ready to kill, maim, blackmail, bribe and hijack power.

A lot of these honorable founders of the party, left piecemeal, some died in frustration, and I eventually resigned from the PDP in 2006.

The rest is now history as we continued to experiment with the formation of new parties, hoping they will be eventually better until I took a break from politics in 2007 and lived in the United Kingdom for 8 years, and in Dubai for 2 years before my return to Nigeria early 2016.

In order to appraise the political environment, I settled for one of the small parties and poured a lot of resources in it. The party gathered momentum and suddenly the real owners of the party showed up after we had created structures every where, they were happy to kill the party as it was going to a direction they did not want.

The bitter truth I found out in our last political outing was that most of the small parties are registered as fall back position by the different factions of the two big parties.

Apart from picking some small seats or the other on such platforms, there is nothing fundamentally meaningful that they were designed for.

We had to face the reality that we needed to make a pick between APC and PDP.

I dare say for the record, at the risk of being immodest, that In today's Nigeria there are very few living politicians that have accumulated experience in politics as I have done, and one stubborn truth is that at the end of the day, it is the personal integrity of the politician that is more important.

No party is perfect and the more of credible people who aggregate on a given platform, the greater likelihood that, that platform will be the platform for a new Nigeria.

I have made my choice and I urge all my followers to come with me.

Let us be the true Core Progressive Wing of the APC that will revive values and ideologies of individuals in politics, as you have the progressive wing of the Democratic Party in America.

God bless you! God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

#BetterTogetherWithHashim

Lol

Baawaa:
You join APC in order to become untouchable,simple

Was he touchable before?

Gbenga Olawepo Hashim

Why I decided to join APC ― Olawepo-Hashim
L
By Sanya Adejokun - Abuja
On Aug 4, 2021

As politicians begin serious juggling towards the 2023 general elections, a presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections one platform of Peoples Trust, Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, says he has decided to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to rejuvenate his long-term struggle for the improvement of the lots of Nigerians.


In a statement announcing that he has joined the ruling party, the prominent politician from the North-Central he was “opting for the APC to actualise my vision because the party is not just populated by people with whom we founded the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) together but also because the party is a reasonable pathway for the preservation of the unity and progress of the nation.”

He stressed that he is now also convinced about the passion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s (GCFR) for anti-corruption even though critics have questioned the effectiveness of his anti-corruption crusade.

Ironically, “the other party does not even care a whim about curbing corruption”, and regrettably, “its members celebrate their newly adopted legacy of graft and display of criminal opulence.

“The other party is a far cry from the community of honourable men and women that it was in 1998 when we launched it”

Lately rated with President Buhari as one of the most engaging political leaders online, Olawepo-Hashim revealed that he has formally registered in Usuma ward as it is procedurally required, and this was after series of consultations with his longtime friends and associates of over 23 years, His Excellency, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, the Governor of Kwara state.


He has also received support and encouragement from His Excellency George Akume, former Governor of Benue state and current minister of Special duties, who is equally an important leader of the party in the Northcentral zone, and a major political ally since their days as founding members of the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999.

“I was then privileged to serve as the first elected Deputy National Publicity secretary as well as chairman of the important Group of 54 National Executive Committee (NEC) members that included a majority of the party’s elected Governors in 1999” he recalled adding, “by the Grace of God today I will be attending the stakeholders meeting of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the All Progressive Congress(APC), in what is my first public event as a member of the party.”


The politician added that it was clear after the 2019 elections that going forward we have to make a choice between one of the two major political parties in Nigeria, for a more meaningful struggle for a better Nigeria.

Pursuant to that, “In the past six months I have twice met the Chairman of the APC National caretaker committee, His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, and several times with my brother and friend Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN).


This is in addition to meetings with the Minister of the FCT, Mallam Mustapha Bello, who is the leader of the APC in the FCT, and also a member of the Federal Cabinet.

“I have also consulted with party elders, leaders and members too numerous to mention, and especially the FCT party chairman, who worked very hard to convince me to join the APC”

Regardless, “in deciding for the APC, I have no illusion that I have come to a perfect party or that the struggle to birth a new Nigeria on this my chosen new platform will be easy.


I will continue to rely on your prayers and support, the strength of the Lord and his guidance and protection as I embark on this journey.

“Please permit me to state that in taking this decision my long-standing commitment to the struggle for Justice and Equity will not waiver, just as my adherence to the principles of true federalism will not wane, and not least will my three-and-a-half-decade struggle for the improvement of the welfare of the downtrodden Nigerians diminish.


“I remain solid in my pursuit of a New Nigeria, Modern, United Peaceful and prosperous! God bless us all,” he declared.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/tribuneonlineng.com/why-i-decided-to-join-apc-%25E2%2580%2595-olawepo-hashim/amp/

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