Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim's 1988 Protest Against Thatcher

Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, the Accord presidential candidate, recounted a significant confrontation with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at Lagos Airport on January 7, 1988. At the time, he was a student activist at the University of Lagos.

Hashim and four fellow activists broke through a police cordon during Thatcher's visit, protesting her opposition to economic sanctions against South Africa's apartheid regime. The protest began at the Nigeria Labour Congress secretariat and involved approximately 2,500 demonstrators marching towards the airport.

They carried placards and flags from the African National Congress, aiming to make their anti-apartheid message visible. Despite police anticipating the demonstration and cordoning off the area, Hashim and his group sought to deliver their message directly to Thatcher and Nigerian officials, including Augustus Aikhomu, then Deputy Head of State.

Their actions led to their arrest as they attempted to reach the tarmac when Thatcher's aircraft landed at around 12:05 p.m.