2023: Why Rotation Is Divisive – Olawepo-Hashim

By GWG Staff

Businessman   and   presidential   candidate  in  the   2019   general   elections Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has said that rotation of the presidency in 2023 would be counter-productive to the polity.

Noting that rotation will may not foster national unity and development, he added that the country needs a good president from any region who is prepared and capable of  promoting the socio-economic development.

The former presidential candidate said those who want power   must  construct   a   national   platform   and   build   a   national   consensus behind their programme.

Olawepo-Hashim said in statement that Nigeria needed a president that will unite the country, secure it and transform its economy from an under-developed economy to a modern productive economy.

The business mogul maintained that the envisaged president “should not be based on tribe, religion or religion,   but   on   an   ability   to  support   the   all-round   social   and   economic development and provide sustainable employment for Nigeria’s massively unemployed hands.”

Olawepo-Hashim stressed that “Nigerians from every corner are always ready to vote for a good president when they see one,”  recalling  that without any zoning in  1993,  the late Chief Moshood Abiola got  votes from  Kano against Alhaji Bashir Tofa, his main opponent, who hails from Kano.

He also recalled that in 1999, “despite the fact that President Olusegun Obasanjo’s home base, the Southwest, did not vote for him, he still became president, based on of votes from the six regions.

Olawepo-Hashim said: “The talk of zoning of the Presidency is, therefore, a false narrative, divisive and inimical to national development.”

He noted that the notion of ” it is our turn president” makes leaders to become escape accountability because when he is questioned, the so-called ethnic base and constituents would gather to say ‘you cannot touch our man because it is our turn.”

Olawepo-Hashim added:  “This   phenomenon   is  dangerous  for   national unity,  cohesion  and  national  development, and  more  importantly,  rotating president is a pedestrian diversion from the current subject of devolution and decentralization of power from the over centralized centre to the federating states in Nigeria.

“Nigeria would not just become a just and equitable federation, simply   because   a   Southerner   is   exercising   the   over   blotted   power   at   thecentre.

“It will be more equitable and efficient when the powers are devolved more to the states, regardless of who occupies the office of the President.

“Most of the people talking of how Obasanjo, a Southerner became presidentin 1999, were not there in the PDP. They are over simplifying issues. I was one of the conveners of the PDP in 1998. I know the proper context for what was done.

“It was not as if other people from other zones did not contest against Obasanjo. Alhaji Rimi contested against him in 1999 from Kano; also Dr.Alex   Ekwueme.

   “In   2003,  Chief   Barnabas   Gemade   from   the   North contested against President Obasanjo. Ditto for Buhari in 2015. Chief Rochas Okorocha from the Southeast contested against him.

“The emergence of any particular leader or presidential candidate at anytime is usually a product of intense horse trading, negotiations and bargaining,  not outright zoning to any particular region.”

He said those who want power   must  construct   a   national   platform   and   build   a   national   consensus behind their programme.

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