I Will Not Run for Office or Accept Government Appointment – Pat Utomi

Renowned political economist Professor Pat Utomi has announced that he will no longer contest for any political office or accept government appointments in Nigeria. Speaking during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television on Friday, Utomi stated firmly that his focus now is on the well-being of future generations, not political ambitions or personal gain.

“Let me state clearly: I will not run for public office, I will not accept an appointment, \[or] contract by any government in Nigeria. My only concern is the well-being of the next generation,” Utomi declared. Emphasizing his record of integrity, he added, “I have lived my life decently without government money or stealing anybody’s thing. I want to take that away from people who talk nonsense like, ‘Oh, he is looking for a contract’.”

Utomi also addressed the concept of a shadow government, describing it as a democratic initiative aimed at increasing governmental accountability. “Nothing can be more democratic than a group of citizens coming together to find a structured way of asking the government to be more accountable,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to pay attention to the Afrobarometer, an annual survey that tracks public opinion on democracy across African nations since 1999. Utomi said the data provides valuable insight into citizens’ sentiments and the challenges democracy faces on the continent. “Africans still love democracy, cling to it, but they are tired because their democracies are not working,” he noted.

Utomi called for a revival of democratic principles, stressing that the current system in Nigeria has strayed from its core purpose. “Our democracy does not have meaning. The purpose of serving the people is lost. It’s about individual gain or power,” he said. He encouraged all true democrats, including members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, to support efforts to renew democratic values in Nigeria.