- The Middle Belt Forum has adopted a presidential candidate ahead of the 2019 presidential election
- The influential forum has settled for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Trust (PT), Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim
- In reaction, Olawepo-Hashim said he was a candidate with capacity to unite Nigeria and bring prosperity to the land
The Middle Belt Forum has adopted the presidential candidate of the Peoples Trust (PT), Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as its choice for the February 16 presidential election.
Leaders of the Forum, at a meeting in Abuja recently ratified the choice of Olawepo-Hashim, bringing to an end a process that started six months ago.
Leader of the forum and former military governor of Plateau state, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd), who announced their choice, said that the choice of Olawepo Hashim has been ratified.
Legit.ng gathered that the forum is spread in 12 out of 19 northern states, a new development could alter the calculations ahead of the 2019 presidential election.
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According to Suleiman, the journey for the ratification of a common Middle Belt candidate started when southern leaders asked them to produce a common candidate that would be supported for the presidency by both regions.
He said that the forum identified many aspirants from the Middle Belt and later shortlisted three of them who met with the leaders at the home of the former governor of Kwara state, Chief Cornelius Adebayo in Lagos.
He said that the forum had assured the three shortlisted candidates that a final choice would be made and that all of them must be ready to work together.
He also stated that the Middle Belt would continue to network with southern leaders on the adoption of the common candidate.
“What we are doing here today is to tell you that the Middle Belt has completed the exercise and we have settled for a candidate and that candidate is you (Olawepo-Hashim),” the retired Air Force Officer and former chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) said.
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Olawepo-Hashim, who expressed gratitude to leaders and members of the Middle Belt Forum for the adoption, said that he was a candidate with capacity to unite Nigeria and bring prosperity to the land.
He said that his adoption was not just because he hailed from the Middle Belt, but more of a recognition of his capacity to keep the country safe and united, a role, he said the Middle Belt has always played.
He said that the Middle Belt has remained the mainstay of Nigerian unity, adding that Middle Belters fought in the frontlines as soldiers, policemen and forces that keep the country united.
Olawepo-Hashim said: “That Nigeria is still standing as one today is due to the sacrifices of all of you. Most of you were not just soldiers in mouth, you also led in the battle field to keep Nigeria one. The forces that fought either as Air Force officers, or as combatant soldiers and Police officers are all from Middle belt.
“Today, the country is facing an existential threat. Eleven out of 19 Northern states are today ravaged by cross border banditry and all manners of criminality. The south is threatened by kidnappers, armed robbers, you can hardly travel from Port Harcourt to Lagos on road without major incidents. So the country is facing existential threat.
“The next election is not just about choosing a president, it is a battle for the soul of Nigeria.”
He promised to address the imbalance in state creations in the country and form a National Guard to enhance security if elected president.
Other leaders of the Middle Belt present at the brief gathering included the president of Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, former governor of Kwara state, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, former military governor of Rivers state, Major General Zamani Lekwot (rtd), former deputy governor of Niger state, Nuhu Zagbayi, retired DIG Porter Dabup and members of the executive committee of the forum.
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Olawepo-Hashim recently called on politicians to rise above partisan fray in their reactions to the recent killings of Nigeria troops in the northeast region.
Instead of politicizing the sad event, Olawepo-Hashim, rather called for a cross-party, consensual approach in dealing with the national scourge, according to a statement signed by his spokesman, Hassan Ibrahim.
He stressed that it was time politicians desist from matters that could affect national security.
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