Nigerian professor of political economy and management expert, Pat Utomi, argues that there is no democracy in Nigeria. He claims that elected leaders frequently violate people’s rights to express their political views.
During an appearance on News Central TV’s Politics HQ show on Wednesday, Utomi stated that there is nothing wrong with the planned nationwide protests against hunger and high cost of living. He emphasised that although the claims from the presidency are unfounded, protesting is a fundamental role of the opposition.
“It is a statement about how we misunderstand democracy. Although these claims are fallacious, the truth is that the opposition should be protesting.
“The opposition should be urging the government to do what is right, whether on the streets, in parliament, or anywhere. That is the essence of opposition,” Utomi said.
Utomi criticised the government and those who condemn people for protesting, stating;
“To accuse people of doing what they should be doing and make it look like a crime only shows the shallowness of those who are doing it because this is the duty of the opposition. If they did it, they would be right, but they are not doing it.”
He added, “I wish I was not away and was around to be organising these things because it is really what the opposition should be doing. How can it be a democracy, when we live in a country where conditions are very difficult for people, and the same people responsible for this hardship have the temerity to accuse people of venting through protests?
“Is this still democracy?” He questioned.
Responding to claims by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, that Utomi was sponsoring the protests, Utomi denied any involvement but asserted that protesting is justified given the country’s hardships.
News Central reports that Utomi had threatened to sue Onanuga, demanding evidence to support his claims.
“The onus is on the person to show evidence. I find this argument problematic because it has been presented as if there is something wrong with protests. Why would I be planning protests and be hiding about it?” He demanded.
“For personal reasons, I have been living abroad for some months now. Then I got a call that I am planning an insurrection through protests that I didn’t know were taking place. I found it mind-boggling. I wanted to ignore it, but some people would think this person wants to frame up something. I decided to react to it rather than dismiss it as the best way to talk about the matter,” he explained.
The renowned professor and author stated that he preferred military rule to the current supposed democracy, which harasses and intimidates citizens for demanding their rights. He claimed he predicted the current administration’s failure in a book he published five years ago.
“I felt more comfortable under the military opposing their ideas. You can go back and see how I opposed military rule, even though many of them were my friends. But as a matter of principle, I opposed military rule all through.
“Some people who were joining me in the protests grabbed power and said if you talk, then you are an enemy. What kind of thing brings us here? But don’t be surprised though, I predicted this would happen,” he said.
“Five years ago, I wrote a book titled “Why Not: Citizenship, State Capture, Creeping Fascism and Criminal Hijack of Nigerian.” Go and read it. You will see that I predicted all these things happening. How did the Nazi get there in Germany? It started exactly the same way this Nigerian process is going. And I warned about it five years ago. Just watch what is going on in Nigeria without people rising, then you will see where we will get to,” he added.
The Labour Party’s Inaction and Corruption
Utomi criticised the Labour Party (LP) for its lack of active opposition, expressing disappointment in elected members of the House of Representatives who fail to oppose anything due to corruption.
“The party (LP) itself is not opposing. The opposition leaders at the National Assembly are not opposing. The people elected are not opposing, and this is as a result of corruption,” he said.
Regarding President Tinubu’s plea to Nigerians to suspend the protests as the government is working “assiduously” to improve lives, Utomi responded;
“Working assiduously in buying yachts and presidential jets? Or is it the motorcades that we see running around when the president and governors move around? What is assiduous?”
News Central reports that some Nigerians have been mobilised to start nationwide protests on August 1, under the hashtags #EndBadGovernance, #TinubuMustGo and #Revolution2024.
The Labour Party has stated it is not the organiser of the planned protests against hunger and the high cost of living in the country.