2027: Nigerians want competence, not zoning — Olawepo-Hashim
By Luminous Jannamike
Presidential hopeful of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has condemned what he described as a deliberate attempt by President Bola Tinubu’s aides to divide Nigeria along regional and ethnic lines, warning that such rhetoric threatens national unity and security ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Olawepo-Hashim, reacting to comments attributed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, accused elements within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of reviving a North–South political dichotomy as a diversion from what he described as worsening economic conditions, insecurity and governance failures.
His position was contained in a statement signed by Olawepo-Hashim, a PDP chieftain and presidential aspirant.
He said the strategy was reckless and undermined Nigeria’s national security interests at a time when the country was grappling with deep economic distress and social strain.
“Dividing Nigeria along regional lines in order to escape accountability for governance failure is shameful and dangerous. It is a direct betrayal of the oath to defend the unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Olawepo-Hashim said.
As political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum, the PDP presidential hopeful dismissed arguments centred on rotational presidency, insisting that Nigerians were no longer interested in symbolic power-sharing formulas.
“Nigerians are not asking for a Northern or Southern president. They are asking for a competent president, one who can revive the economy, secure lives and property, and unite the country around a shared future of prosperity,” he stated.
Olawepo-Hashim noted that both regions of the country have had significant opportunities to govern since the return to democratic rule in 1999, stressing that leadership failure could not be blamed on geography.
“Leadership failure cannot be blamed on geography. Both regions have governed. What matters now is performance, not origin,” he said.
He warned that resurrecting ethnic and regional narratives in the face of rising insecurity and economic hardship only exposed what he described as the ruling party’s lack of credible solutions.
“Using ethnicity and region to mask incompetence is not only lazy politics, but it is a direct insult to Nigerians who are struggling to survive,” Olawepo-Hashim added.
Calling on Nigerians across the country to reject divisive politics, he said the ruling party would not be able to rely on regional sentiment in the next election cycle.
“Come 2027, Nigerians will vote for leadership, not tribal loyalty. The era of emotional blackmail is over,” he stressed.
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