Nigerian famous political activist, Professor Pat Utomi, has unveiled members of a shadow cabinet he said would be providing patriotic alternatives to Federal Government on policy issues.
First announced on May 5 by Utomi, the shadow government idea triggered government’s secret police, the DSS, to file a suit at the Federal High Court, asking judges to declare the cabinet unconstitutional as well as to restrain him from making public comments or staging rallies.
Speaking in Abuja after a two-day retreat of ‘The Big Tent’, Utomi named Nana Kazaure (information), Riwang Pam (security), Nike Omola (women and gender development), and Peter Agada (infrastructure) as members.
According to Utomi, the basic reasons for the shadow cabinet would be to give expert review of government policies and by no means trying compete or take over the affairs of governance from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
“The progress of any government is to ensure the welfare of the people,” ARISE TV quoted Utomi as saying.
“There must be alternative views and reviews to help government move in the right direction.
“Legislators were not elected to execute projects, to do otherwise is to make them slaves who go cap in hand begging the executive.
‘’With this kind of practice, the members of the legislature will not be able to perform one of their basic duties, which is checks and balances.’’
Utomi said he pitched the idea of a shadow cabinet to the late former President Umar Musa Yar’Adua in 2007, and declined an offer to join his government.
He said Nigeria lacks the political will and national strategy needed for development, citing the coastal highway project as an example of unilateral policymaking.
The Professor also faulted the Federal Government’s approach to agriculture, saying the sector must move beyond “hoes and cutlasses”.
Utomi asked the government to prioritise insecurity and embrace state police.
On the African Democratic Congress (ADC), he said its emergence as a coalition party offers Nigerians a credible alternative.
“The coalition is a work in progress, using value-driven projects to move the country forward,” he said.
