Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former presidential aspirant, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu played an active role in the struggle to restore democratic governance under military ruler Sani Abacha.
He accused Tinubu of being absent during the pro-democracy movement.
Gbenga made the remark on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
He said while some Nigerians confronted the Abacha regime, Tinubu stayed outside the country.
“When we fought the military, President Bola Tinubu was one of those drinking cognac abroad. He was not here,” he said.
PDP’s ROLE IN DISPLACING ABACHA
He recalled his role in the struggle, noting that members of the G34 and civil society groups risked their lives to oppose Abacha’s self-succession bid.
“The day Abacha died, I was in Fort Ibibi with some people as part of the G34 and civil society groups that confronted Abacha. We were there as civilians negotiating a new republic,” he said.
He also cited the sacrifices of key figures, including the late Abubakar Rimi and Solomon Lar.
“Rimi was in prison. Chief Solomon Lar took the G34 letter to Abacha by hand, not by courier. He took it to the lion’s den,” he said.
Gbenga made the comments while responding to claims that opposition parties are weak and ineffective.
He rejected the suggestion that opposition politicians are “lazy”, arguing that earlier actors showed courage and commitment.
“Those were not lazy people. I don’t think you know what you’re talking about,” he said.
However, he expressed concern over the current state of opposition politics, saying it has failed to hold the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) accountable.
“In the last two and a half years, where is the opposition? Nobody is holding Tinubu and the APC to account,” he said.
He also alleged that the ruling party interferes in opposition parties by creating factions and deepening internal crises.
“Any party you go to, once you are a person of stature, the next day, APC will create a faction. We have seen this in PDP, Labour Party, and even ADC,” he said.
The PDP stalwart warned that such actions could weaken democratic institutions and undermine the role of opposition in governance.
