Gbenga Hashim meets Falana, vows resistance to one-party agenda

The 2023 presidential candidate of People’s Trust (PT), Gbenga Hashim, has declared that pro-democracy forces across the country will resist any attempt to foist a one-party system on Nigeria, following a strategic meeting with Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana.

Hashim said the meeting was part of ongoing consultations with key stakeholders aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.

“We resolved to sustain the multi-party structure of Nigeria’s democracy and resist one-party rule,” he said.

Describing Falana as a long-standing ally, Hashim noted that their relationship spans over four decades, anchored on activism, resistance, and a shared commitment to justice.

He recalled their involvement in the anti-apartheid struggle under the Nigeria–ANC Friendship and Cultural Association, particularly a major protest held on January 7, 1988, during the visit of former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

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According to him, he led a student contingent that defied security restrictions and advanced onto the airport tarmac in protest, this action resulted in the arrest of five activists.

Hashim paid tribute to those involved, noting that only two of them are still alive, while others, Olaitan Oyerinde, Chris Ayaeze, and Rotimi Ewebiyi, have since passed on.

Beyond street activism, Hashim highlighted his legal battles against military rule, including a 1988 suit challenging the Structural Adjustment Programme under the regime of Ibrahim Babangida, for which Falana served as his pro bono counsel.

He also referenced his 1989 detention in a landmark constitutional case against the Attorney General of the Federation, which a legal team led by Alao Aka-Bashorun, then President of the Nigerian Bar Association, handled.

Hashim further disclosed that Falana played a pivotal role in his appointment as National Administrative Secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, where he worked under the late Beko Ransome-Kuti.

He stressed that their enduring alliance remains focused on defending democratic values, civil liberties, and political plurality in the country.

The declaration signals renewed concern among pro-democracy advocates over the trajectory of Nigeria’s political system, with Hashim affirming his readiness to collaborate with like-minded actors to safeguard the nation’s democracy.