Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, the Presidential candidate of the Accord Party, has called on Nigerians to take ownership of the country's future ahead of the 2027 presidential election. In an Independence Day message, Hashim challenged citizens to reject the notion that Nigeria must remain a third-class nation. He emphasized that the country's underdevelopment is not due to a lack of resources, but rather the failure to utilize its human, natural, and institutional capacity for transformation.
Hashim identified several factors hindering Nigeria's progress, including poverty, human trafficking, insecurity, institutional capture, and the breakdown of security infrastructure. Despite its enormous potential, the country is held back by these challenges. He noted that Nigeria's young population should be transformed into a significant economic advantage through skills, education, employment, and productive opportunities. According to Hashim, "Nigeria is not a poor country. We have behaved like a poor country because we have consistently underutilised the enormous capacity available to us."
The Accord Party candidate stressed that the consequences of poor governance extend beyond economic statistics, affecting the security, dignity, and future of ordinary Nigerians. He cited human trafficking, unemployment, and insecurity as issues that thrive where citizens lack economic opportunities and institutions are weak. Hashim emphasized that defeating these challenges requires addressing the conditions that make people vulnerable to trafficking. "You cannot permanently defeat trafficking without defeating the conditions that make human beings vulnerable to trafficking," he said.
Hashim urged Nigerians to demand clear visions, measurable targets, and accountability from political candidates in the 2027 election. He encouraged voters to look beyond personalities, ethnicity, religion, or political slogans and take responsibility for determining the country's direction. According to Hashim, "Nigeria belongs to Nigerians. We must stop behaving as spectators in the affairs of our own country." He emphasized that citizens must be proactive in shaping the country's future.
The Accord Party candidate outlined his vision for Nigeria's economic transformation, targeting a $4 trillion economy within 8 years. He proposed an economy driven by increased production, manufacturing, agriculture, energy, technology, and services. Hashim argued that Nigeria must shift from an economy focused on distributing resource revenues to one that creates wealth through production and value addition. This, he believes, will drive sustainable growth and development.
Hashim also reaffirmed his proposal to increase Nigeria's crude production to at least four million barrels per day within 24 months of an Accord administration. He plans to achieve this through the recovery of commercially viable shut-in oil wells, improved security, investment in production infrastructure, better crude evacuation, and reforms to petroleum production costs. Additionally, Hashim emphasized that increased crude production must become a foundation for domestic industrialization, with Nigerian crude powering Nigerian industry.
Finally, Hashim reiterated his commitment to implementing policies that will drive sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria. His proposals aim to address the country's current challenges and unlock its enormous potential. With a focus on transforming Nigeria into a $4 trillion economy, Hashim's vision offers a new direction for the country's future.
Key points
- Accord Party's presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, proposes a $4 trillion economy within 8 years.
- Hashim urges Nigerians to reject third-class status and take ownership of the country's future.
- He plans to increase Nigeria's crude production to four million barrels per day within 24 months of an Accord administration.
