The presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has visited the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, following the attack on him and members of his team in Ekiti State, warning President Bola Tinubu and members of his political team against actions and rhetoric capable of triggering political violence in Nigeria.
Hashim, who made the remarks during the solidarity visit, said Nigeria could not afford another security crisis amid escalating terrorism, banditry and kidnappings across the country.
The Accord Party candidate described the growing threat of politically motivated violence as dangerous to Nigeria’s democracy and national stability, warning that the country was already overwhelmed by multiple security challenges.
“Nigeria cannot afford to add political violence to the general insecurity in the land,” Hashim declared.
He welcomed a statement by a United Nations representative expressing concern over the attack on Sowore but urged other international partners to publicly condemn political violence and attacks against opposition figures.
Hashim stressed that the international community must not remain silent when political actors are attacked, insisting that democratic freedoms must be protected and political disagreements must not degenerate into violence.
He specifically called on President Tinubu to caution members of his political team against provocative statements and actions capable of escalating political tensions.
“The President should call his team to order. They should not provoke war because they would be the first to run away,” he said.
The solidarity visit also brought renewed attention to the longstanding relationship between Hashim and Sowore, who were both involved in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle against military rule.
Recalling their years of activism, Hashim described Sowore as a comrade from the early days of their involvement in the struggle, revealing that their relationship dated back to the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“Sowore is our own. We brought him into the movement in 1989/1990,” he said.
Responding, Sowore expressed appreciation for the visit, describing Hashim as a senior comrade who introduced him to political activism while he was a student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
“I am most grateful for this solidarity visit by my senior comrade and colleague, presidential candidate of the Accord Party. He was one of those who brought me into the struggle in UNILAG. We fought against military rule together when some people ran away,” Sowore said.
The AAC presidential candidate further declared that the attack would neither intimidate him nor discourage his continued involvement in the struggle for democracy.
“We are not intimidated, and we shall continue to fight until genuine democracy is established,” he added.
The solidarity visit comes amid growing concerns over political intolerance and the safety of opposition figures and activists in Nigeria, particularly following reported attacks and threats against individuals critical of the government.
Hashim’s intervention underscored the need for political leaders to exercise restraint and discourage their supporters from engaging in violence, intimidation or other actions capable of undermining democratic participation.
He maintained that Nigeria, already battling widespread insecurity, must not allow political hostility to worsen the country’s security situation, stressing that the protection of opposition figures and democratic freedoms remains essential to national stability.