By Ayo Kehinde
Renowned political economist, Professor Pat Utomi, has said the formation of a shadow government is both a moral and democratic imperative aimed at holding public office holders accountable.
Speaking during an interview on News Central’s Breakfast Show on Thursday, Utomi defended the concept amid recent criticisms following his declaration of a shadow government in Nigeria.
He traced the idea to a historic push for inclusive governance across Africa, citing a pivotal 1985 conference in Nairobi organised by the Aga Khan Foundation.
“That conference called for a tripartite approach to governance in Africa. One of its major outcomes was the creation of the Enabling Environment Forum—the precursor to the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. Sadly, we’ve strayed from that vision,” he said.
Lamenting what he described as the capture of the Nigerian state by a narrow elite, Utomi said the shadow government initiative seeks to revive that abandoned vision through a coalition of opposition figures, civil society groups, and development agencies offering alternative governance solutions.
“A group of people hijacked the state, subordinated the private sector, and completely sidelined civil society. Look at the mess we’re in—they’re going nowhere. To reclaim the promise of Nairobi 1985, we needed an alternative framework to address Nigeria’s problems,” he noted.
Utomi dismissed threats and criticisms against the initiative, insisting there’s no legal basis for any action against citizens organising for good governance.
“What kind of legal action? On what grounds? That citizens have come together to comment on government performance? People can call themselves anything, as long as it’s for the public good,” he said.
He also criticised the fixation on elections at the expense of governance: “Stop talking about the next election. Government exists not for elections, but for service to the people.”
Utomi further accused the media of enabling political underperformance by failing to challenge public office holders.
“The media lets them get away with it. You should tell them when they’re talking nonsense. Let’s see what they’ve actually achieved,” he said.
Highlighting the decline in living standards, Utomi compared Nigeria’s development trajectory with those of peer nations.
“Think about it—the average Nigerian today lives far worse than the Nigerian of 1960. Compare that with where the average Vietnamese or Chinese citizen was in 1960 and where they are now. It’s like night and day,” he said.
