Prominent political economist and activist, Prof. Pat Utomi, has insisted that the shadow government he recently declared is not unlawful as it was not targeted at overthrowing the government of President Bola Tinubu.
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Utomi, who has been dragged to court by the Department of State Services over his declaration of a shadow government, insisted that the government misunderstood the concept of a shadow government.
According to him, a shadow government is a critical instrument for democratic accountability, policy innovation, and the deepening of democratic values and reform.
According to a statement on Sunday, Utomi spoke during the 4th edition of the Topaz Lecture Series titled “Shadow Government: A Distraction or Necessity”.
The lecture was hosted by the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Class of 1988 Alumni Association.
Speaking to a virtual audience of media professionals, political thinkers, and civil society actors, Utomi explained that the shadow government was not a rebellious or parallel state structure, but rather a civic platform designed to stimulate issue-based governance, offer policy alternatives and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic fabric through open dialogue.
“This is not an attempt to overthrow or undermine the government, but to foster constructive criticism and accountability,” Utomi said. “Shadow cabinets are a recognised democratic practice around the world, and Nigeria must embrace institutions that encourage performance and transparency.”
He added that he pitched the idea to former President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2008 and maintained the cabinet, mainly at his own expense, since then.
The shadow cabinet idea has sparked public discourse, legal scrutiny, and opposition from the Federal Government, with proponents attributing the call to frustration with the country’s cyclical political dysfunction and lack of ideological leadership.
The Federal High Court in Abuja last week ordered the service of court documents on Utomi, a former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, in a suit filed against him by the Department of State Services over his alleged plans to establish a shadow government in Nigeria.
The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, granted an ex parte motion brought by the DSS’s lead counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN).
During the lecture, Utomi fielded questions about the legality of using the term “shadow cabinet,” stating that if the suit by the DSS were to succeed, the group would adopt a different name.
The professor, who is currently out of the country, stated, “Our commitment is not to nomenclature, but to values. Nigeria urgently needs a space where policies are debated and where the government is constructively challenged to do better.”
Utomi warned of the dangers of anti-intellectualism and elite complacency in Nigeria’s political class, cautioning that failure to reform governance structures could result in in social crisis.
He stressed that only strong institutions and active citizen participation could safeguard Nigeria’s future.
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