Terror attack: Ex-presidential candidate commiserates with Russia

A former Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has conveyed his sympathy to President Vladimir Putin, the people of Russia, the wounded and the families of those killed in the recent terrorist attack at the Music Hall in Moscow.

In the letter dated Monday, 25 March 2024, and sent through the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Abuja, Hashim maintained that the attack remains “a fiendish assault on live culture and civilization,” stressing that: “the horrific act which reportedly claimed 137 lives must be condemned by peace-loving people all over the world and people of good conscience.”

He added that the attack further underscores the ubiquitous nature of terror which no nation is immune against as long as there exists fertile minds for evil.

“Sad occurrences such as the 9/11 in the US, the London Tube bombing, and many variants of terrorist actions such as this in powerful nations highlight the necessity of increased international cooperation and solidarity against terrorism and the need to strengthen peace globally across political divides.

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“Though Nigeria feels the pains of terrorism daily, Nigerian people must stand with Russia a friendly Nation that has demonstrated generous friendship and support to our Nation in times of war and peace in the past,” he said.

He stressed that not only did Russia support efforts to keep Nigeria one during the country’s civil war, but it also extended economic support for the building of important economic infrastructures and provided scholarships and technical training for the nation’s key professionals.

Hashim emphasized that “the bond of friendship between Nigeria and the Russian people has been traditionally reciprocal as demonstrated during the incident of the Chornobyl nuclear tragedy when Nigeria announced a substantial financial donation in solidarity with Russia.