Former Peoples Trust presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has urged greater involvement of Nigerian workers in governance, saying the country cannot achieve genuine democratic renewal without their active participation in decision-making and national development.
Olawepo-Hashim made the call on Friday during the inauguration of the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR) in the Federal Capital Territory at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Labour House in Abuja.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Kamaldeen Sanni, he said workers should no longer be seen only as voters during elections but as key partners in shaping government policies and driving national progress.
“Nigeria cannot be renewed without its workers. Workers are not just voters; they are nation builders. They must become equal partners in governance, policymaking and national development,” he said.
He explained that the movement aims to promote economic growth through entrepreneurship, technology, vocational training and agriculture, while also improving access to quality education, affordable healthcare and strengthening institutions that protect citizens’ rights.
Olawepo-Hashim also reaffirmed his confidence in the judiciary regarding the legal dispute over his emergence as the Accord Party’s presidential candidate, urging his supporters to remain peaceful and allow the courts to decide the matter.
Earlier, NLC FCT Chairman, Comrade Stephen Nnabayi, described the launch of the movement as timely, noting that Nigeria’s current economic and political challenges require organised labour to play a stronger role in defending democracy and promoting good governance.
Speaking on the vision of the movement, Comrade Nanman Philemon Kash said the MDR seeks to promote transparency, responsible leadership, social justice, youth and women inclusion, as well as greater political participation by workers.
Also speaking, Olawepo-Hashim’s Legal Adviser, Chukwunyere Akwiti, urged Nigerians to respect the rule of law, while the Director-General of the Hashim Grassroots Mobilisation Movement, Pastor Ayinla Samuel, called for stronger grassroots participation in the country’s democratic process.
