Professor Pat Utomi, a renowned political economist, has defended the formation of a shadow government initiative in Nigeria, calling it a moral and democratic necessity aimed at holding public office holders accountable. He made these remarks during an interview on News Central’s Breakfast show on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Utomi linked the concept to a historic push for inclusive governance across Africa, referencing a major 1985 conference in Nairobi organised by the Aga Khan Foundation.
“That conference… called for a tripartite approach to government in Africa,” he explained, adding that it aimed to involve government, private sector, and civil society equally in decision-making. “One of the big outcomes of the Nairobi conference was the founding of what was called the Enabling Environment Forum… the forerunner of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. Unfortunately, we’ve not lived that promise.”
He lamented the capture of the Nigerian state by a narrow elite:
“A group of people grabbed the state… subordinated the private sector and completely ignored civil society. You can see the mess. That’s why they’re not going anywhere.”
The newly launched shadow government, according to Utomi, seeks to reclaim that abandoned vision by forming a coalition of opposition voices, civil society actors, and development agencies to offer alternative governance solutions.
“To really claim the promise of Nairobi in 1985, it was important… to create an alternative way to solving Nigeria’s problems.”
Utomi dismissed criticisms and veiled threats against the initiative, insisting there is no legal or constitutional violation in citizens organising themselves:
“What kind of legal action? On what? For what? That a group of citizens have gotten together… and make comments about how government is behaving?” “People can get together and call themselves whatever they want… as long as they use it for the good of society.”
He rebuked politicians for prioritising elections over governance, saying:
“Stop talking about the next election. The reason that government exists is not for election, but for service to the people.”
Utomi also accused the media of enabling political underperformance:
“The media lets them get away with it. Tell them they’re talking nonsense. Let’s see what you have performed.”
On the stark decline in living standards, he cited comparisons with peer nations:
“Just think… the Nigerian of today is living way below the quality of life of the Nigerian of 1960… Compare where the average Vietnamese or Chinese was in 1960 and where they are now. Night and day.”
For him, active citizenship and criticism of bad governance are non-negotiable responsibilities:
“It’s your right. If you don’t do it, then you are negligent. And you are complicit in the failure of Nigeria.”
