Former Accord Party presidential candidate Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has expressed concern over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent remarks during his meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), saying his greatest worry is not just the President but the future of Nigeria.
Speaking in a statement on Monday, Olawepo-Hashim said he repeatedly listened to the President’s comments after the meeting and concluded that the Tinubu he heard was different from the man he knew between 2018 and 2021.
While stressing that he was not making any medical diagnosis, the former presidential candidate said the President’s public communication left him deeply concerned.
“I listened to the recording over and over again. That was not the Bola Tinubu I knew between 2018 and 2021. I left deeply concerned. I am not making a medical diagnosis, but the President’s public communication gives me the impression that he may require genuine help,” he said.
Olawepo-Hashim insisted that his concerns were driven by compassion rather than politics, adding that he feels sorry for the President but is even more concerned about the direction of the country.
“Unlike many Nigerians who are angry with him, I genuinely feel pity for President Tinubu. My greatest worry is that those around him appear more interested in securing another election than in giving him the attention he deserves,” he stated.
He urged those close to the President to prioritise his well-being and the national interest above political considerations.
The former presidential candidate also warned that whatever challenges the President may be facing should never become an excuse for weakening Nigeria’s democracy or compromising the credibility of future elections.
Recalling the peaceful transfer of power in 2015, Olawepo-Hashim described it as one of Nigeria’s greatest democratic achievements and urged political leaders not to reverse that progress.
“Any election that falls short of the 2015 democratic standard will not be acceptable to the Nigerian people or to Nigeria’s friends across the world,” he said.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other democratic institutions to remain neutral and ensure that the 2027 general election is free, fair and credible.
“Nigeria needs free and fair elections, not coronations. Our institutions must serve the Constitution, not any individual or political party,” he added.
Olawepo-Hashim concluded by saying Nigeria’s democracy is bigger than any individual or political party, urging leaders to protect the country’s democratic future for generations to come.
