He reportedly stressed that Nigeria urgently needs purposeful, inclusive, and unifying leadership to avert deeper national fractures. Both Obasanjo and Babangida, though non-partisan, are widely regarded as influential elder statesmen who remain deeply invested in Nigeria’s unity and stability, having played defining roles in the country’s political and military history. It added that during the Minna meeting, Hashim reportedly appealed to Babangida’s historic role in preserving Nigeria’s unity, referencing the sacrifices made during the civil war. He emphasised that the 2027 election must be centred on national rescue, warning that continued leadership failure could further endanger the country’s cohesion and stability. Political observers view the consultations as a strategic move by Dr Hashim to position himself as a national consensus-building figure ahead of what is expected to be a highly consequential 2027 presidential election.

Source: Punch December 22, 2025 18:06 UTC