Hashim links past struggles to present challenge
A former presidential candidate, Gbenga Hashim, has drawn fresh attention to the sacrifices that birthed Nigeria’s democracy. He warned that the nation’s current political developments require renewed vigilance from citizens
A former presidential candidate, Gbenga Hashim, has drawn fresh attention to the sacrifices that birthed Nigeria’s democracy.
He warned that the nation’s current political developments require renewed vigilance from citizens and leaders alike.
In a statement titled: “Reminiscence: The Price of Our Democracy,” Hashim recalled his detention during the late 1980s and the global solidarity that followed.
The businessman noted that Nigeria’s democratic freedoms were earned through “incarceration, tears, blood, and, for many, the ultimate price”.
His remarks come at a time of heightened national debate over governance, democratic accountability, and the direction of political leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Hashim recalled that two historical artifacts recently resurfaced, offering a vivid reminder of that era.
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The first, he said, is a December 1989 publication by the International Union of Students, which documented an international campaign calling for his release alongside South Korean student activist Rim Suyong.
In the absence of an official photograph, the publication used an illustrative image to represent him.
The second, he said, was a handmade protest poster demanding his release and his colleague, Gbenga Komolafe, who later joined him in detention.
Hashim highlighted the grassroots and international dimensions of the pro-democracy movement.
Reflecting on the present, he f cautioned that while Nigeria has made significant progress since the return to civil rule, the ideals that fueled the struggle, freedom, justice, and accountable governance, must not be taken for granted.
“Our generation stood at the forefront of a global pro-democracy movement that swept across Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia,” he said.
According to him, the responsibility to protect and deepen democracy now rests with all Nigerians.
His comments resonate amid ongoing conversations about political reforms, electoral integrity, and citizen participation, with analysts noting that the country’s democratic institutions continue to face tests that require both leadership commitment and active civic engagement.
