NewStats: 3,262,149 , 8,176,234 topics. Date: Sunday, 01 June 2025 at 12:37 AM 1q2n13

Prominent economist and political activist, Prof. Pat Utomi, has inaugurated a shadow government composed of from various opposition parties.

According to Utomi, the “Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government,” launched virtually on Monday evening, will function as a credible opposition force, highlighting the failures of the Bola Tinubu istration while offering ideas for better governance.

But in a swift reaction, the Federal Government kicked against the move, describing it as an aberration in a federal system of government.

In an interview with The PUNCH, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said, “At a time when our nation is set to celebrate 26 unbroken years of presidential democracy, the idea of a so-called “shadow government” is an aberration.

“Nigeria is not a parliamentary system where such a system is practised, and there is no provision for such in our statute books.

“While opposition politics is a central feature of democracy, it must be practised at all times within the bounds of propriety.

“This idea of a shadow government sadly does not that test. Our bicameral legislature amply features of the opposition, and it should be the right place to contest meaningful ideas for nation-building.”

Utomi, however, justified the move, arguing that policy missteps by the current Federal Government had worsened poverty, driven multinational companies out of the country, and intensified terrorism in Benue and Plateau states, alongside rising insecurity and corruption nationwide.

The don expressed concern over what he described as the government’s resort to propaganda and the suppression of opposing views.

“The recent spate of defections to the All Progressives Congress provides further evidence that all is not well with democracy in Nigeria,” he said.

“The imperative is that if a genuine opposition does not courageously identify the performance failures of incumbents, offer options, and influence culture in a counter direction, it will be complicit in subverting the will of the people.”

He said the shadow cabinet—made up of figures drawn from several opposition parties—was created to respond to what he called a national emergency.

“Today, I bring to this pioneer body the desperate cries of a people troubled by how their reality seems bound for serfdom. I challenge you to awaken these people who wrongly believe that everything is fine as long as they can manage a share of what little still trickles down from crude oil sales,” Utomi said.

Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, was named head of the Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio.

Others appointed to the policy delivery unit include Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Daniel Ikuonobe, Halima Ahmed, David Okonkwo, and Obi Ajuga.

Other of the shadow cabinet include Dr. Adefolusade Adebayo, Dr. Peter Agadah, Dr. Sadiq Gombe, Chibuzor Nwachukwu, Salvation Alibor, Bilkisu Magoro, Dr. Victor Tubo, Charles Odibo, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Eunice Atuejide, Gbenga Ajayi, and Dr. Mani Ahmad, as well as Peter Oyewole and Dr. Omano Edigheji.

Utomi stated that the shadow government would hold weekly cabinet meetings to assess government policies and propose practical alternatives.

He identified immediate priorities as the stimulation of production, the formulation of a coherent economic growth strategy, decentralisation of security, and constitutional reform.

The cabinet, he said, would also focus on providing alternatives in healthcare, education, infrastructure development, law and order, and policy monitoring.

“This shadow team must also address issues of ethics, transparency, and integrity, which continue to challenge this government at every turn,” Utomi said.

“Nothing is more urgent than tackling the rising poverty across the country. Multinationals are shutting down, and millions are unemployed. Just two recent company exits illustrate how poorly thought-out policies have tanked the economy.”

He criticised the ruling party’s alleged reliance on propaganda, comparing it to fascist tactics meant to stifle critical debate.

“The resort to propaganda as a tool of governing, by the party in power, makes rational discussion of the decisions of the APC government difficult, moving us more towards fascist conditions. Like Joseph Goebbels inoculated Germans to Hitler’s deadly path, a massive shower of propaganda insults seeks to prevent patriots from factually critiquing policy choices of the government, and the behaviour of its agents, which can have more negative consequences on our well-being,” he said.

Utomi also addressed the controversial removal of the petroleum subsidy, arguing that the decision was poorly sequenced and executed.

“Making propaganda of most leaders being in agreement on removing the petroleum subsidy was to cover up policy errors of how to remove it without further structural damage to the economy. The sequencing of actions could have produced different outcomes than driving the people into penury,” he said.

He added that economic revival depends heavily on stimulating production through policies that entrepreneurship and local value chains—an area he claims the current istration fails to grasp.

“Unfortunately, corruption and short-sighted self-interest have prevented sensible policy choice and ionate implementation,” Utomi stated.

“The argument that pain from policies is inevitable is giving a lie by the wasteful use of public resources for executive comfort in Jets, Yachts, and frequent travel. Pain evenly spread breeds consensus that accelerates implementation.”

Utomi challenged the shadow cabinet to propose and promote a practical economic growth strategy.

“Don’t worry if they steal your ideas and use them—the gain is for Nigeria,” he said.

On security, he noted that parts of Benue and Plateau states have been deserted due to terrorist attacks, with no visible government strategy in place to address the crisis.

“The threat to peace and the effect of uncertainty on economic activity make this such an important issue more appropriate for emergency measures than that which led to the unconstitutional ousting of Rivers state Governor Sim Fubara,” he said.

He advocated a decentralised policing structure, arguing that communities should have their own armed and trained forces, complemented by state police and a Federal National Guard.

“Policing for me is a local function. We will travel further if we get the communities to have their own armed and well-trained police forces, which will be layered State police and the Federal National Guard. It appears the corruption ‘benefit’ of centralisation is fanning rationalisation of centralisation,” he said.

He added that the political class appears more focused on positioning for elections than serving the people.

“So much seems rooted in politics and positioning for elections that service to the people seems to be a forgotten proposition. This shadow team must emphasise returning to the people and enabling their pursuit of happiness. That is the purpose of the government. Too much misery parades itself in our country, and it needs to be forced out,” Utomi said.

He also tasked the cabinet with upholding ethical standards and integrity, which, he alleged, are absent in the current istration.

“This shadow team also has to deal with matters of ethics, transparency and integrity that seem to challenge this government at every turn. The policy team of the new tribe has a detailed analysis of the Lagos-Calabar contract and state capture. They can provide you with quality input,” he said.

He stressed that promoting ethical governance is essential to sustainable economic development.

“I note also with great pain the pervasive state of corruption in current reality. All effort to showcase integrity and transparency as value must be made,” he added.

Other of the shadow cabinet include Sidi Ali, Ibrahim Abdukarim, Adenike Oriola, Promise Adewusi, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, Mr. Ambrose Obimma, Rwang Pam, Dr. Kingsley Anedo, Prof. Auwal Aliyu, Dr. Ghazali Ado, Ms. Nana Kazaure, Aisha Yusuf, Dr Charles Gilbert, and Olujimi Akinboh.

https://punchng.com/fg-kicks-as-pat-utomi-forms-shadow-govt/

I think Prof Utomi should really fight for the soul of Nigeria if he is really serious about it.
This shadow govt of a thing is still a superficial part of the battle, it reminds one of Patito's gang and the Mega Party he wanted to form.

Sir, you and I are supposed to be friends and we have come across each,to the best of recollection, twice.

To really win the soul of Nigeria, set up political radio stations across Nigeria as Tinubu did and take over a national newspaper fully to propagate your ideas just like President Tinubu. The current President owns the Nation and has a substantial investment in the Punch.

You need to give your competitors a good run for their money. You might not end being the president cos you are a minority, but posterity will you for a job well done.

If you are confident in your performance, you will not be afraid of opposition.

The Tinubu government is overwhelmed and disengaged. For two years, Nigerians have warned of a healthcare collapse as doctors flee in droves. The response? Deafening silence—and private jets to whenever the president feels ill.

If Macron couldn’t retain doctors in , would Tinubu still have a hospital to run to? No.

Nigeria is becoming a healthcare desert, and yet nothing—no incentives, no reforms—has been rolled out to retain medical professionals.

It’s time for a Shadow Government—a real think tank of experts, doctors, policy strategists, and economists—to operate independently, deg actual solutions. We cannot wait for Abuja to save us. Nigeria’s pulse is weak.

Wake up or bleed out.

They just don't want any opposition or even a watch dog because they have turned their governance into a dictatorship

Hungry and jobless Agbadoians are on their ways to call him names

Much needed

They will soon tell us that of the shadow government are decamping to APC

Unfortunately, the evil APC will unleash tribal charged propaganda on this group as usual.. You will soon start to hear stuffs like "go back to your states"... It has always been their template. APC as a political party has No substance, No inventive thinking.., just perpetually pandering to tribal pulls and petty village arguments.., The APC!

Kremlins:
Congratulations to Ndigbo

see them again....tribal bigots

Give it to them hot hot, the Yoruba Egbe Regional President must be chased out of Aso Rock come 2027, whether he likes it or not, he needs to retire back to Paris where his heart dwells

Shadow govt is a good governance practice, it will shadow this govt and give light to it..

Agbado economic policy can be defined as the policy of making the masses of a country suffer and sacrifice for the betterment of the country ( After two years and still waiting) and the elites/political class of the country.

Utomi wey dey work for tinubu

Looooool the same APC that wanted to form shadow government in 2015 !

So Jagaban the fear

😂

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thenationonlineng.net/apc-to-form-shadow-government-in-kano/amp/

Pat Utomi would have been better had he not step down for the warlord that turned politics to religious war back then!

It's late now!

"Utomi stated that the shadow government would hold weekly cabinet meetings to assess government policies and propose practical alternatives".

This is a welcomed development if done in good faith without unnecessary politicking!

Seefinish:
Hungry and jobless Agbadoians are on their ways to call him names

Better to be hungry than to be a terrorist like ipob killing their own people.

Which opposition do we have in Nigeria, you mean the opposition that you have succeeded in buying or what?

Where is this man from in the first place,Abi na another mushroom party l??

Welcome development...

The government can continue to kick at everything till it kicks itself out of power

Tochitee:
Where is this man from in the first place,Abi na another mushroom party l??

Nigeria.
The man is from Nigeria.

i wholeheartedly any measures that will drive Nigeria out of the woods but this should be done in accordance to the dictate of the constitution.

More tears await your wailing soul after the 2027 election

franchasng:
Give it to them hot hot, the Yoruba Egbe Regional President must be chased out of Aso Rock come 2027, whether he likes it or not, he needs to retire back to Paris where his heart dwells

Tunaji:


https://punchng.com/fg-kicks-as-pat-utomi-forms-shadow-govt/

I think Prof Utomi should really fight for the soul of Nigeria if he is really serious about it.
This shadow govt of a thing is still a superficial part of the battle, it reminds one of Patito's gang and the Mega Party he wanted to form.

Sir, you and I are supposed to be friends and we have come across each,to the best of recollection, twice.

To really win the soul of Nigeria, set up political radio stations across Nigeria as Tinubu did and take over a national newspaper fully to propagate your ideas just like President Tinubu. The current President owns the Nation and has a substantial investment in the Punch.

president Tinubu also owns TVC .

You need to give your competitors a good run for their money. You might not end being the president cos you are a minority, but posterity will you for a job well done.

Tunaji:


https://punchng.com/fg-kicks-as-pat-utomi-forms-shadow-govt/

I think Prof Utomi should really fight for the soul of Nigeria if he is really serious about it.
This shadow govt of a thing is still a superficial part of the battle, it reminds one of Patito's gang and the Mega Party he wanted to form.

Sir, you and I are supposed to be friends and we have come across each,to the best of recollection, twice.

To really win the soul of Nigeria, set up political radio stations across Nigeria as Tinubu did and take over a national newspaper fully to propagate your ideas just like President Tinubu. The current President owns the Nation and has a substantial investment in the Punch.

You need to give your competitors a good run for their money. You might not end being the president cos you are a minority, but posterity will you for a job well done.

FG would kick because they know all their policy initiatives are motivated by prospects of personal financial gain and never by patriotism

No be this same utomi man deceive Obi go LP.
Hopefully them no go fall for him charade. The man is a staunch asiwaju er.

Nah asiwaju be government nah him still dey opposition

Pat Utomi and forming of shadow government are like 5 & 6