Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has characterised Professor Pat Utomi, a renowned expert in Political Economy, as an embittered individual with an entitlement mentality.
Amosun made this statement in response to remarks Utomi made about him on X. According to Amosun, these criticisms come from his refusal to cater to Utomi’s sense of entitlement or indulge in questionable influence-peddling during his tenure as governor of Ogun State.
Amosun disclosed this while reacting to a post on X, where Utomi claimed that Amosun failed to honor an agreement preceding his administration. Amosun further revealed that the Ogun State House of Assembly had already declared Utomi persona non grata and labelled him an enemy of the state due to his involvement in questionable business dealings within the state.
In his response to Utomi’s accusations, Amosun clarified, “Before I assumed office, the Ogun State House of Assembly had already passed a resolution declaring Utomi persona non grata and included this resolution in the state’s black book.
“When I became governor, I decided to reach out to Utomi, purely out of my own initiative and not because he approached me. I was curious about the situation, given his public profile, and wanted to understand the issue.
“He mentioned that there was ongoing construction on an Ogun State property that had become a subject of controversy.
“I immediately assigned a team to investigate and determine the appropriate course of action. My team reported that the construction was taking place in the car park of the Ogun property on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Road in Lagos State, which was deemed inappropriate. They suggested an alternative location.
“But Utomi refused the alternative site, insisting that the original location offered better visibility. After further assessment, my team estimated that the construction could not have cost more than N35 million to N50 million at that time. I then decided to visit the site myself.
“Additionally, it became clear that the work had been hastily carried out upon realising that a different political party had won the governorship election and would soon take office.
“It was apparent that the intent was to ambush the state government under my administration, creating a situation where the new government would face controversy over demolishing an ongoing project.
“To avoid wasting his investment in the state, I agreed to reimburse N100 million, even though he claimed N200 million. Despite his persistent pressure, I did not acquiesce to his demand for the full amount.
“In an effort to influence me, Utomi involved his Centre for Value in Leadership (CVL) by offering me an award. It seemed suspicious that I had only been in office for about two years, yet was being given an award, so I declined it.
“But he insisted that I attend his CVL SOLUTION CONFERENCE SERIES, which I did, and I received a plaque for my participation. However, I stood firm on my decision to refund N100 million, not the N200 million he demanded.
“Years later, he continued to complain to others with the intent of maligning me. When I heard about it, I confronted him, pointing out that his issue was rooted in a sense of entitlement. He even boasted, asking me: ‘Do you know who I am?’ But I ignored him, having recognised his true nature. In my view, the law applies equally to everyone, regardless of their status.
“I challenge anyone, including journalists, to visit the construction site and assess the supposed N200 million investment. They should also consider what benefit the project would have brought to Ogun State.
“No one can discredit me to elevate themselves. I served Ogun State with passion and integrity, and I stand by every decision I made, regardless of whether individuals like Pat Utomi agreed with them.
“Utomi knows his case is baseless. He is no different from Zhongfu International Investment FXE. He cannot legitimately claim any damages to his investment. His actions are nothing more than a disgraceful ‘me too’ attempt.”
The former governor also argued that for Nigeria to improve as a nation, the law must apply equally to all citizens, regardless of their status, religion, or ethnicity. He emphasised that if Nigerians truly desire a great nation, they must hold their leaders accountable for their actions. However, if Nigerians allow themselves to be misled by misinformation, mischaracterisation, and baseless stories, it would be a tragedy.