How Gbenga Hashim Secured 48 Federal Appointments for Kwarans in 1999

Presidential hopeful and businessman, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has narrated how he facilitated 48 federal appointments for Kwara State indigenes in 1999.

Hashim made the revelation while featuring on The Bridge Podcast, as captured in a promotional clip released ahead of the official launch of the show’s sixth episode scheduled to be launched on Friday.

He underscored that his contributions to Kwara’s representation at the federal level were driven purely by service, not self-promotion. He noted no governor of the state has matched in the decades since.

“In 1999, I secured 48 federal appointments for Kwarans across key ministries, departments, and agencies,” he said. “I did it quietly. Nobody heard about it because I wasn’t seeking applause, I was focused on impact.”

He explained that following a request from the party, then President Olusegun Obasanjo allowed the party to nominate 40% of federal board appointments.

Hashim said he personally took care of Kwara State, ensuring the state got 48 slots, which he distributed to individuals across the state’s 16 local government areas.

Hashim also criticized the modern culture of grandstanding over political appointments, describing it as a distraction from the real goals of leadership and development.

“Excessive celebration over appointments has become the hallmark of today’s politics,” he noted, lamenting what he sees as a shift away from purposeful governance.

As he continues consultations ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Hashim used the platform to decry what he described as two decades of leadership decline, urging a return to substance over spectacle in both state and national affairs.