A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not actively involved in the struggle against military rule in Nigeria.
Speaking during a live appearance on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels Television, Olawepo-Hashim questioned the narrative surrounding political contributions during Nigeria’s transition from military to civilian rule.
He claimed that while members of the PDP and civil society groups were actively confronting the military government, Tinubu was outside the country.
“When we fought the military, President Bola Tinubu was one of the people drinking cognac abroad. He was not here,” he said.
Olawepo-Hashim also recounted his involvement during the final days of military rule, stating that he was present with key political figures during critical negotiations.
“A day General Sani Abacha died, I was with General Ibrahim Babangida, the G-34 and the civil society group that confronted Abacha,” he said.
According to him, civilians played a crucial role in negotiating Nigeria’s return to democratic governance, even as military forces maintained a heavy presence.
“I was in for Babangida. They were moving tanks. We were civilians negotiating the new Republic. So many founding fathers of the PDP were in prison as of then,” he added.
The remarks have added to ongoing political debates about the roles played by various actors during Nigeria’s transition to democracy.
