Omo Ibile Igbomina Hosts Hashim, Accord Presidential Candidate

-‘We Don’t Have To Become Identical To Build One Nation’ — Hashim

-Fakayode Recalls Three Decades Of Relationship, Longstanding Support

The National President of Omo Ibile Igbomina, Sir Bisi Fakayode, has hosted the Accord Party presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, on a courtesy visit to the organisation’s headquarters in Ganmo, Kwara State, where they discussed cultural integration, national unity and the development of the Igbomina institution.

Hashim, who reflected on his longstanding relationship with the Igbomina people, said Nigeria could achieve genuine national unity without requiring its diverse ethnic groups to abandon their distinct cultural identities.

The visit also provided an opportunity for Fakayode to showcase renovation, rehabilitation and other development projects undertaken at the Omo Ibile Igbomina House under his leadership. The tour included an inspection of the adjoining hospitality facility and other areas undergoing development.

Fakayode expressed appreciation for Hashim’s longstanding support, describing him as a friend and valued stakeholder of the Igbomina community. He recalled that the Accord presidential candidate was among the first three prominent individuals who supported the present leadership from its formative stage.

He said Hashim’s encouragement had remained consistent from his days as a local government chairman to his emergence as national president of the socio-cultural organisation.

“What we are witnessing today did not start today. You supported and encouraged this journey from the beginning. From my days as a local government chairman to where God has brought me today as the national president of Omo Ibile Igbomina, your support and encouragement have been part of this journey,” Fakayode said.

In his response, Hashim commended Fakayode for the transformation taking place at the Igbomina House and urged the leadership to sustain its efforts towards strengthening the institution and advancing the interests of the Igbomina people.

The presidential candidate also spoke about his personal connection with Igbominaland, explaining that although his ancestral roots are in Yauri, he grew up in an Igbomina family in New Bussa, Niger State, an experience that shaped his understanding of identity, community and peaceful coexistence.

According to him, his upbringing exposed him to a tradition of cultural accommodation in which people from different ethnic backgrounds, including Fulani, Hausa, Tiv, Zuru, Birom and Igala communities, lived alongside one another while retaining their distinct identities.

Hashim said the experience demonstrated that ethnic and cultural differences did not have to result in division, adding that communities could coexist, conduct business, engage in farming and participate in shared social and political activities without losing their identities.

“We don’t have to become identical to become one nation. We can be different and yet belong together,” he said.

He maintained that Nigeria’s diversity could become a source of strength if supported by mutual respect, appropriate institutions and a shared sense of belonging among citizens.

Hashim described his visit to the Omo Ibile Igbomina House as more than a social engagement, saying it offered an opportunity to reflect on his personal history and the lessons it held for Nigeria’s future.

He said the experience reinforced his belief that cultural pluralism could promote national development when diversity was properly organised, mutually respected and protected by institutions.

The Accord presidential candidate added that the Igbomina experience offered useful lessons for Nigeria’s nation-building efforts, stressing that people from different backgrounds could maintain their identities while working towards common goals.