It was pomp as frontline presidential aspirant, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, went notches higher towards the realization of his ambition on Wednesday as he procured the Alliance for New Nigeria’s nomination form, promising to foster unity, fix the economy and stop the killings in the land.
Olawepo-Hashim, who said he is full of respect for President Muhammadu Buhari for his sacrifices to the nation, however noted that what Nigeria urgently needs is a president that will be a commander-in-chief to all Nigerians.
He said: “I am therefore better placed to bring the country back together.
“I am most assured I can get the job done given my record of accomplishment” he said with a high of confidence.
“I will restructure the economy from a dependent one to a self-reliant economy by investing in iron and steel, research and development, and in other critical sectors.”
These critical sectors, Olawepo-Hashim pursued, will include “chemical and machine tools, so as to generate the production of capital goods, local capital and to bring in prosperity, through the needed multipliers.”
The business mogul with substantial interest in oil exploration and energy generation, also promised to implement a New Economic Development Programme, which will lead to the expansion of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product from $510 billion to $4 trillion within 10 years.
Besides, the NEDP will also increase the Per Capital Income of the average Nigerian to between $16,000 to $18,000 within 10 years as well.
This, to the cerebral politician, will make Nigeria to be at par with middle-income countries like Malaysia, with whom we had comparable income level at independence.
Other than this, the astute politician said NEDP would target an estimated $2 trillion into infrastructure within 10 years.
It will also create jobs from manufacturing, industrialization and then link up industries with solid minerals and the agricultural sector.
According to Olawepo-Hashim, the agricultural sector will be integrated with the industrial and solid mineral sectors to create sustainable jobs for youths employment will also be accelerated through the promotion of innovation and the knowledge economy.
He reasoned that not all problems in Nigeria are caused by the All Progressives Congress.
He said: “Some are caused by the colonial masters and have been left unattended to.
“It is however regrettable that the former colonial masters now ridicule the nation, and even more regrettable that the APC and previous leaders lack the skill set to correct things.
“I respect President Buhari.
“He is our baba and we are his children.
“From where I come from, we do not insult elders.
“Truth is that he has done a lot and should now go and rest.
“We are prepared to give him a befitting exit.”
