Utomi Laments Growing Political Intolerance, Likens Current Situation To Happenings In Abacha Era

Renowned political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, has raised concerns over what he described as growing political exclusion in Nigeria, warning that the country’s current democratic experience was beginning to mirror the authoritarian era of the Late Military Junta leader, General Sani Abacha.

Utomi made the remarks during an appearance on Arise News Channel’s breakfast show on Tuesday, where he alleged that there was a deliberate attempt by those in power to sideline opposition forces from the electoral process.

“Everybody who is a trend watcher can see that there is a deliberate attempt by the ruling party, by those in power, to exclude significant political opponents from the ballot box, using the capture of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, and state institutions, and I am willing to sit and analyse how this is the truth and nothing but the truth,” he said.

The former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2007 elections further accused key democratic institutions, particularly INEC of compromise, alleging that the commission was acting in alignment with the interests of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Citing recent developments within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Utomi pointed out to what he described as INEC’s “swift validation” of a faction aligned with Nyesom Wike as evidence of institutional bias.

“INEC’s rush to validate the Wike-faction PDP convention is evidence that it functions as a parastatal of the APC, and is about to bring democracy to a solid sad end in Nigeria if the people do not arise and take their country back,” he stated.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s political history, Utomi recalled the late Bola Ige, noting his critique of Abacha-era politics.

“You know, years ago, Chief Bola Ige, looking at Abacha’s games, described them as the five fingers of the same leprous hand. APC, PDP are two sides of a coin that is somehow lost,” Utomi said.

He argued that a truly popular government would willingly submit itself to the will of the electorate rather than suppress it.

“If the party that is in power is popular, it will say let’s go and test our popularity with the people. But the one thing the APC does not want to see is the people’s votes, because it knows the pain in the country, the dissatisfaction from how poorly people live, and the anger from the misery index that defines their condition. Instead of turning a new leaf and saying ‘test us out,’ they are trying to prevent the will of the people from emerging,” he added.

Utomi also disclosed that legal steps are being taken to challenge recent political developments, including actions at the National Assembly.

“We have gone to court to essentially challenge what happened at the National Assembly on February 17, and we are returning to court to seek a repeal of that so-called Electoral Act. Even if the courts are manipulated as they may be, we are in two courts — the court of the people and the courts of law, and those courts will sort themselves out,” he said.

Warning of potential consequences, Utomi cautioned that continued political suppression could trigger widespread unrest.

“This could be the fire of the harmattan on the Sahel if people are not careful. Nigerians have had enough of being intimidated and bullied by political actors, and if they are not careful, they will reap very painfully. International criminal courts will try them,” he warned.