In the wake of the recent revelations about former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s handling of a contract with a Chinese investment group, renowned political economist and management expert Professor Pat Utomi has come forward to share his own experience of contract violations during Amosun’s tenure.
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Over the weekend, ex-Governor Amosun admitted in a personal statement that he had been deceived into transferring control of the Ogun-Guandong Free Trade Zone to another Chinese team in 2012 without properly assessing the facts. This dispute has now escalated, resulting in a French court ordering the seizure of three jets owned by the Nigerian government.
Reacting to these developments, Prof. Utomi revealed on his X (formerly Twitter) account that he too had fallen victim to Amosun’s disregard for contract terms. According to Utomi, he had leased OPIC land in a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement under the previous governor, Gbenga Daniel. However, upon assuming office, Amosun put a stop to all such contracts.
So it was Gov Amosun’s violation of contract terms signed by his predecessor that brought the shame of seizure of jets from the Presidential fleet. I hope he is happy at his achievement’. The whole matter is Khama at work. The Chinese were not the only victims. One prominent Ogun…
— Pat Utomi (@UtomiPat) August 18, 2024
Despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue, including personal meetings with Amosun and appeals to APC leaders Bola Tinubu and Bisi Akande, Utomi’s case remained unresolved. He estimates that he and his South African partners lost over 200 million Naira in investments, in addition to the initial lease amount.
Utomi lamented the impact of such actions on investor confidence, noting that he lost his South African partners who had successfully operated across Southern Africa and Asia. He questioned when Nigerian leaders would learn that values shape human progress.
The professor’s revelations shed further light on the broader implications of the Ogun State contract dispute, which has not only strained diplomatic relations but also undermined the trust of both local and international investors.
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