*Says An Aberration In Presidential System
THE Federal Government has kicked against the formation and inauguration of a shadow government, made up of members from various opposition political parties by economist and political activist, Professor Pat Utomi, describing it as an aberration in a federal system of government.
According to Utomi, the “Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government,” launched virtually on Monday evening, May 5, would function as a credible opposition force, highlighting the failures of the President Bola Tinubu administration, while offering ideas for better governance.
However, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told The Punch: “At a time when our nation is set to celebrate 26 unbroken years of presidential democracy, the idea of a so-called ‘shadow government’ is an aberration.
“Nigeria is not a parliamentary system where such a system is practised and there is no provision for such in our statute books.
“While opposition politics is a central feature of democracy, it must be practised at all times within the bounds of propriety.
“This idea of a shadow government, sadly, does not pass that test. Our bicameral legislature amply features members of the opposition and it should be the right place to contest meaningful ideas for nation-building.”
Utomi, while justifying the action, argued that policy missteps by the current Federal Government had worsened poverty, driven multinational companies out of the countr, and intensified terrorism in Benue and Plateau states, alongside rising insecurity and corruption nationwide.
He expressed worry over what he termed government’s resort to propaganda and suppression of opposing views, saying: “The recent spate of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) provides further evidence that all is not well with democracy in Nigeria.
“The imperative is that if a genuine opposition does not courageously identify the performance failures of incumbents, offer options and influence culture in a counter-direction, it will be complicit in subverting the will of the people.”
Utomi stated that the shadow cabinet was created to respond to ‘a national emergency,’ adding: “Today, I bring to this pioneer body, the desperate cries of a people troubled by how their reality seems bound for serfdom.
“I challenge you to awaken these people who wrongly believe that everything is fine as long as they can manage a share of what little still trickles down from crude oil sales.”
Utomi disclosed that the shadow government would hold weekly cabinet meetings to assess government policies and propose practical alternatives; identify immediate priorities as the stimulation of production; formulate a coherent economic growth strategy, decentralise security and constitutional reform.
The cabinet, he said, would also focus on providing alternatives in healthcare, education, infrastructure development, law and order and policy monitoring, noting: “This shadow team must also address issues of ethics, transparency and integrity, which continue to challenge this government at every turn.
“Nothing is more urgent than tackling the rising poverty across the country. Multinationals are shutting down and millions are unemployed. Just two recent company exits illustrate how poorly thought-out policies have tanked the economy.”
He criticised the ruling party’s alleged reliance on propaganda, comparing it to fascist tactics meant to stifle critical debate, stating: “The resort to propaganda as a tool of governing by the party in power makes rational discussion of the decisions of the APC government difficult, moving us more towards fascist conditions.”
He said the controversial decision to remove petroleum subsidy was poorly sequenced and executed, noting: “Making propaganda of most leaders being in agreement on removing the petroleum subsidy was to cover up policy errors of how to remove it without further structural damage to the economy.
“The sequencing of actions could have produced different outcomes than driving the people into penury.”
He stated that economic revival depends heavily on stimulating production through policies that support entrepreneurship and local value chains, an area he claims the current administration fails to grasp, adding: “Unfortunately, corruption and short-sighted self-interest have prevented sensible policy choice and passionate implementation.
“The argument that pain from policies is inevitable is giving a lie by the wasteful use of public resources for executive comfort in jets, yachts and frequent travel. Pain evenly spread breeds consensus that accelerates implementation.”
To the shadow cabinet, he said: “Don’t worry if they steal your ideas and use them, the gain is for Nigeria.”
Utomi lamented that parts of Benue and Plateau states have been deserted due to terrorist attacks, with no visible government strategy in place to address the crisis, saying: “The threat to peace and the effect of uncertainty on economic activity make this such an important issue more appropriate for emergency measures than that which led to the unconstitutional ousting of Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara,”
He advocated a decentralised police system, arguing that communities should have their own armed and trained forces, complemented by state police and a federal national guard.
According to him: “Policing, for me, is a local function. We will travel further if we get the communities to have their own armed and well-trained police forces, which will be layered state police and the Federal National Guard.
“It appears the corruption ‘benefit’ of centralisation is fanning rationalisation of centralisation.
“So much seems rooted in politics and positioning for elections that service to the people seems to be a forgotten proposition.
“This shadow team must emphasise returning to the people and enabling their pursuit of happiness. That is the purpose of the government. Too much misery parades itself in our country, and it needs to be forced out.”
Utomi charged the cabinet to uphold ethical standards and integrity, which he said were absent in the current administration, stating: “This shadow team also has to deal with matters of ethics, transparency and integrity that seem to challenge this government at every turn.
“The policy team of the new tribe has a detailed analysis of the Lagos-Calabar contract and state capture. They can provide you with quality input.
“I note also with great pain, the pervasive state of corruption in current reality. All effort to showcase integrity and transparency as value must be made.”
