2027: I’ll protect Christians, Muslims, other faiths — Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim

The presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has pledged to protect Christians, Muslims and adherents of other faiths in Nigeria, saying religious freedom must become a central pillar of the country’s security and conflict prevention strategy.

Hashim made the pledge in a policy brief submitted to the United States Congress and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), ahead of a US House hearing on Nigeria.

He acknowledged the persecution of Christians in parts of the country, including attacks on churches, killings of pastors and destruction of communities, but cautioned against portraying Nigeria’s religious crisis ex...