Accord Party presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has made a surprising personal revelation about his heritage, disclosing that his late father intentionally hid his Hausa lineage and royal Yauri roots from him for nearly three decades to protect his life.

 

In a statement released on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the political leader shared the deeply personal family history, explaining how a spiritual warning forced his father to choose his son's safety over royal privilege.

 

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### The Secret That Lasted 27 Years

 

Olawepo-Hashim revealed that his late father, Alhaji Hashim Abdullahi Yauri—a former Commissioner of Police and Commandant of the Police College, Kaduna—acted on advice from an Islamic cleric who warned of potential dangers and palace rivalries surrounding the young prince.

 

To safeguard his life, his father made the difficult decision to relocate him to the Borgu Emirate, where he was raised away from the royal court under a different cultural setting.

 

> *"He chose protection over inheritance,"* Olawepo-Hashim stated. *"For 27 years, I lived without knowing the full story of who I was."*

 

Although named Abdulmalik at birth, he was raised predominantly within a Yoruba cultural environment, completely unaware of his paternal Hausa lineage and traditional ties to the ancient Yauri Kingdom in present-day Kebbi State.

 

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### A Royal Legacy of Modern Administration and Service

 

Olawepo-Hashim is the direct grandson of Seriki Jibril, the 40th Emir (Seriki) of Yauri—one of Northern Nigeria’s prominent traditional rulers during the colonial era.

 

Reflecting on his grandfather’s historical legacy, Olawepo-Hashim described Seriki Jibril as a visionary leader who blended traditional authority with modern financial administration:

 

* **Colonial Recognition:** Honored with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his administrative prudence and leadership.

* **Financial Transparency:** Historical and British archival records highlight Seriki Jibril as an independent-minded ruler who demonstrated remarkable financial discipline and autonomy during World War II.

* **Educational Advocacy:** A champion for combining traditional values with modern Western and Islamic education.

 

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### "Bridging Cultures Across Nigeria"

 

Rather than creating an identity crisis, Olawepo-Hashim noted that discovering his royal Hausa roots later in life enriched his understanding of Nigeria’s diverse ethnic tapestry.

 

Having grown up steeped in Yoruba culture while carrying royal Northern lineage, he views his unique background as a powerful symbol of national unity.

 

> *"It is the story of a father who chose secrecy as an act of protection; a child who grew up between cultures without knowing the full story of his origins; and a family history that eventually returned to him decades later,"* he shared.

> *"Discovering my Hausa and Yauri heritage did not diminish the Yoruba cultural environment in which I was raised. Rather, it gave me a deeper understanding of the different cultural and historical strands that shaped my identity."*