Prof.Patrick Okedinachi Utomi is a
distinguished Nigerian professor of political
economy and a renowned, internationally
aclaimed public affairs analyst with a unique
leadership acumen that separates him from
his equals.
In this encounter, he speaks on burning
national issues, starting with the demise of
the renown human right icon, Bamidele Aturu,
to the impeachment of Murtala Nyako and the
waste of billions of naira on the ongoing
CONFAB. Excerpt:
How do you feel about the death of the legal
icon, Bamidele Aturu?
It’s a devastating blow to the project of
human right. One of the biggest challenges of
our time is helping the voiceless find a voice.
Sadly we live in a society of an extra-
ordinarily selfish elite who are obsessed with
themselves through nazistic culture. So when
you find a few who are willing to help the
voiceless find their voice, you know that it’s a
gift from above. Stephen clovey said that the
most important habit of the 21th century is to
help people find their voice.
Bamidele Aturu helped his generation to find
its voice. Much earlier, when some of us were
18, youth of Nigeria helped Nigeria find it’s
voice.
Then, we were demonstrating before we know
the reason behind our demonstration, but
today’s youths are so focused on themselves,
while the voiceless are completely helpless. So
when you have a few individuals who are
willing to help other individuals find their
voice, it is tragic to lose them early. He would
surely be missed.
What would you say about the impeachment
of Gov. Murtala Nyako and the resignation of
his deputy despite the intervention of elder
statemen like former President Olusegun
Obasanjo and his Vice, Alhaji Atiku
Abubakar?
It is a very strange conversation for variety of
reasons. It is a complicated politics in
Adamawa. Nyako on his own, in all
circumstances, has his own challenges, but
sincerely, our democracy is not being helped
by these kind of politics.
In some ways I am tangentially related to
Adamawa politics and as part of my work with
the oppressed, I have done quite a bit of work
in some part of Adamawa state during the
flooding. I spent time visiting those areas
providing them trucks full of relief materials
from Lagos. So I know how they feel about
their leadership in Yola.
However, I think we are in a transition society
and there are some delicate things we need to
manage in a certain way to navigate that
transition so that we do not create enough of
a groundswell that would result into a violent
storm at the end.
All these issues happening, reminded me of
1966! And we knew where the tragedy of 1966
led us as a nation. This is a period we need to
be very careful.
Some people are of the opinion that the
politics of cross-carpeting from one political
party to another is not ideal for our
democracy. What is your view?
I find it very disgusting; it’s the main reason
why some of us pushed to register a political
party based on strong ideals and values. It is
an ideological orientation that keeps one in a
political party, not the convenience of an
electoral machine.
It is totally bad that people would swing from
one party to the other because of an electoral
possibility and making mess of the very
essence of a political party. This was why I
was frightened when I heard about speculation
that I would still be joining the People’s
Democratic Party PDP. Not because there is
poison in the party but I believe that the
fundamental reason for involving in politics
should be for building institutions. Institutions
are what preserve the future.
These politicians jumping from one party to
the other are looking for their moment.
Politicians should not be thinking of the
moment but the future of their grand children.
If we can’t build a strong institution like a
strong intent political party then we are not
mindful about the future of our grand children.
It does not matter what anybody does to me, I
would remain in the party I believe is in the
progressive left to any other side.
With the split of the South and the North over
derivation, do you see the confab coming up
with solutions to the problems facing Nigeria
as a country?
Without being temperamental, I have very little
time for the CONFAB. If this group of people
can recommend a 19 state for Nigeria, they
have no idea of what they are doing.
How do you mean?
The reason is very simple, the CONFAB
delegates were selected from yesterday and
their focus is on yesterday. So somehow they
cannot see tomorrow. Imagine yesterday’s
quarrel being re-fired and yesterday’s sharing
formula is being thought through rather than
tomorrow’s bills being discussed. So they are
focusing on yesterday challenges and losing
sight of tomorrows challenges.
The national conference is a waste of billions
of naira of the tax payers’ money. Lest we
forget, I was one of those who pioneered the
call for a true Sovereign National Conference
but it appeared it was manipulated in a way
that the wrong people were called upon to be
delegates.
Although there are some good selected few
among them that see more clearly but their
understanding is so limited which would do
lasting damage on the country. The
understanding of most of those in the
conference is so much on yesterday.
With all the challenges rattling our polity, do
you perceive a breakup come 2015?
My prayer has always been that Nigeria will
remain united and learn from her mistakes
and forge ahead. I have always hoped that the
generation that see the strength of Nigeria will
take advantage of it and build on those
strength in a way that we would all become
penny wise pound foolish.
What structure do you think is most suitable
for Nigeria?
More decentralisation, greater devolution of
power, bigger sub national structures and
something like the six regional structure
instead of the malady we are facing today,
where politicians want to be addressed as
“Your Excellencies.”
Back then, these offices were being run by DOs
who wore knickers and rode bicycles but today
you see leaders flying around in private jets.
With failed leadership, do you see unity as the
best solution to Nigeria’s challenges?
A bigger country is always a better idea
economically. My view is that Nigeria is not
even big enough. We should even think of
merging together with few west-African
countries.
The thought of breaking it further would not
be in the best interest of the Nigerian People.
Consider the United State of America, for
instance. It comprises of smaller countries
that came together to form a formidable
nation.
Then what would you make of the contentions
between the South and the Northern region
delegates?
There had always been differences between
smaller units in any great nation’s history.
The south of the United State fought Civil War
with the Northern for a longer period, but
today nobody is talking about it. Even in
America, nobody remembers it, except for
history lessons. In the same vain, I have many
friends who hail from the North and we relate
normally.
Our problem of division is just the lazy and
selfish elite that are trying to share our
commonwealth. So they don’t elevate
conversation, they just look for how to find
ways for themselves and that is the reason we
are in the mess we find ourselves as a nation.
How best can we get out of these
predicament?
My friend, Prince Odukumaya, once said that
Nigeria is in serious need of a Nigerian Jrry
Rawlilngs but I am not sure if that is the only
way to resolve our problems. Sincerely, we
need a revolution that will wipe out these
characters.
More importantly, we need to recognise that
leadership should not be for dullards.
According to Bishop Coker; the brightest in
our society goes to acquire degrees while the
less intelligent people rule. Nigeria has
reversed everything.
While in other societies, only the brightest
leads. The American President, Barack Obama,
is a professor in constitutional law, the British
Prime Minister is typically a graduate of the
prestigious Oxford University. But in Nigeria
we have the opposite whereby those at the
bottom runs our society.
I remember you anchored on a national TV, a
program titled Patitos Gang in which Reuben
Abati was a member of the ‘gang’. The
program proffered solutions to national
problems.
(Laughed)…I think my people are too involved
now in the sharing of the cake than to think of
the solutions we proffered then. But God is not
sleeping.
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