A former presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has revealed that the late former President, Muhammadu Buhari always commended his patriotic views regardless of their divergent political affiliations.
He stated this in a statement conveying his condolences on Buhari’s demise.
Buhari died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at a hospital in the United Kingdom.
Olawepo-Hashim, who described the former president “as a patriot and advocate of transparency and modesty in public office,” recounted how he met the former president.
According to Olawepo-Hashim, “I encountered him personally at the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), when my company, Set and Sell Communication, was responsible for the production of the Fund’s monthly Newspaper, PTF news between 1997 and 1998.”
He added that “the late President was the Chairman working cordially with his member/Secretary, Chief Tayo Akpata whose office was directly responsible for supervising our work.
“The General who was in love with the beauty of the full colored publication when such was rare in Nigeria gave the continuation of the publication its full support.”
In politics, Dr Hashim said, “even though we shared divergent political views and platforms on most occasions, the General did send his commendation through trusted relations on positions I held which he considered patriotic despite our different platforms.”
He prayed that God would comfort his family and give his loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.
