NIGERIA @ 61: OLAWEPO-HASHIM URGES POLITICIANS TO EMULATE VIRTUES OF INDEPENDENCE LEADERS

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has enjoined current political leaders to exhibit tolerance and political accommodation typical of Nigeria’s Independence leaders which helped Nigeria to move as one and achieve rapid social-Economic development right from the period of self-government between 1955-1960.

The former presidential candidate maintained that “most of the leaders of those era who were younger in age compared to various regional leaders of today demonstrated considerable maturity and spirit of compromise when facing thorny national issues such as the best date colonial rule should end, whether the regions should have the right to secede from the Republic or not as well as who controls the police force the central government or regional governments?.”

On these issues, he noted that the founding fathers of our Republic had divergent opinions but resolved them with the spirit of compromise and forged a national consensus based on National interest as well as equity and Justice.

He added that contemporary issues such as how VAT is collected, where the next Nigeria’s President should come from and even simple issues such as the best methods of raising cows can be resolved without threatening national unity and peace.

“It is about time that political parties take ideological and organisational leadership of the polity instead of allowing ethnic nationalities to drive debates with the attendant risks of fracturing the polity beyond tolerable levels,” he said