Former presidential candidate Gbenga Hashim has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to Nigeria, insisting that surrender is not an option despite the country’s deepening political, economic and security challenges.
Hashim made the announcement in Abuja during the North Central zonal meeting of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, which brought together state coordinators from across the region.
Addressing the gathering, Hashim said the current realities of Nigeria demand strong leadership, organized civic engagement and citizens who are willing to remain engaged rather than withdrawing into apathy or despair. He warned that abandoning the country would mean handing over its future to mediocrity, impunity and bad governance.
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According to him, national renewal requires discipline, clarity of purpose and sustained grassroots organisation, emphasizing that meaningful change is never accidental but the result of deliberate and collective effort. He urged the coordinators to deepen community-level engagement while adhering to the core values of accountability, justice and national integration.
The meeting reviewed the situation of the movement across the North Central region, assessed the ongoing mobilization efforts and agreed on strategies to strengthen coordination and expand the reach of the movement within the region.
The coordinators present reaffirmed their commitment to the vision of a Nigeria governed by competence, integrity and inclusivity, pledging to intensify grassroots organization and political education in their respective states.
In personal reflection, Hashim recalled his long history of political advocacy, which began at the age of 14 when he became sympathetic to the progressive parties of that era.
“We were not of the age to vote then, but we used to stick posters and sing enthusiastically,” he said. “As a young boy, I engaged an NPN representative in the National Assembly, who was a family friend, in discussions about economic management, based on my early knowledge of economics and government.”
He explained that his early activism set him on the path to advocating democracy and good governance, a journey that later led to his detention as a political prisoner at the age of approximately 20.
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“Almost 40 years later, we are still standing,” Hashim said. “By the grace of God, we will not give up until we see the Nigeria of our dreams.”
Hashim also urged members to remind Nigerians, especially the youth, of the country's past economic strengths and future prospects.
“Tell people that in 1966, Nigeria's economy was twice the size of Malaysia and bigger than that of Thailand and Indonesia,” he said. “Remind them how Nigeria assembled cars and tractors and produced vaccines at the Yaba Vaccine Centre. Tell the youth that jobs are possible through industrialization, as we did before, and they are not doomed to lives dependent on palliative measures. Tell them about our $4 trillion plan for economic transformation.”
The meeting ended with a renewed determination among members to strengthen the organisation, maintain advocacy and remain steadfast in the belief that Nigeria can still be saved through principled leadership and collective action.
