Pat Utomi Rules Out Political Office, Advocates Shadow Government for Accountability

Professor Pat Utomi, a prominent political economist, declared he will no longer contest for any political office in Nigeria nor accept government appointments or contracts, emphasizing his commitment to the well-being of future generations. During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Utomi stated, “Let me state clearly: I will not run for public office, I will not accept an appointment, contract by any government in Nigeria. My only concern is the well-being of the next generation. I have lived my life decently without government money or stealing anybody’s thing.” This stance, reported by Punch and Naija News, counters critics who allege he seeks contracts, a narrative he dismissed as “nonsense.”

Utomi, a former presidential candidate and Labour Party chieftain, defended his formation of a shadow government under the Big Tent Coalition, launched on May 5, as a democratic mechanism to enhance government accountability. He argued, “Nothing can be more democratic than a group of citizens coming together to find a structured way of asking the government to be more accountable,” per Channels Television. The initiative, involving opposition figures like Dele Farotimi, aims to propose alternative policies, particularly amid economic challenges like 24.23% inflation and fuel subsidy removal controversies, per TheCable.

He urged Nigerians to study the Afrobarometer surveys, conducted since 1999, which reveal widespread frustration with democracy’s failure to deliver across Africa. “It states that Africans still love democracy, cling to it, but they are tired because their democracies are not working,” Utomi said, citing longitudinal data showing public discontent, per New Telegraph. This aligns with his call for a “renewal” of democracy, a point he believes even the All Progressives Congress (APC) should embrace, though the APC criticized his shadow government as “reckless,” per Daily Post.

Utomi’s decision follows his 2019 Delta State governorship bid and support for Peter Obi in 2023, but he now prioritizes systemic change over personal ambition, per Linda Ikeji’s Blog. X posts, like @channelstv and @vanguardngrnews, reflect mixed reactions, with supporters praising his integrity and critics questioning his motives, per NewsCentral.