Pat Utomi Launches Big Tent Shadow Cabinet, Declares Mission to “Salvage a Dying Nation”
Njenje Media Correspondent — May 13, 2025 – Abuja, Nigeria
In a bold and impassioned speech marking the inaugural working session of the Big Tent Shadow Cabinet, Professor Pat Utomi, renowned political economist and Convener of the Big Tent, called on Nigerians to rally behind a new democratic experiment designed to hold power accountable and offer a credible alternative to the country’s leadership crisis.
Addressing a room of professionals, civil society leaders, and concerned politicians gathered under the banner of democratic reform, Utomi declared that the shadow cabinet represents a collective effort “to salvage a dying nation” overwhelmed by insecurity, deepening poverty, and a perceived failure of governance.
“Many of our politicians walk with swag as shame takes flight,” Utomi said, painting a grim picture of ordinary Nigerians stripped of dignity, with parents no longer able to provide for their families. “Decline mocks a once proud people.”
Utomi positioned the shadow cabinet not as a threat to constitutional order, as critics have suggested, but as a necessary innovation to a democratic system he says is currently failing the Nigerian people.
“Democracy, with innovation of institutional change, can help the agency function better,” Utomi argued. “It can focus on the best interest of the people and enable the pursuit of happiness for the greatest number with its focus on the common good.”
Pushback from the Establishment
The unveiling of the shadow cabinet has drawn fierce reactions from government loyalists and ruling APC officials, some of whom labelled the move unconstitutional and likened it to treason. Utomi dismissed such criticisms, pointing to precedents in presidential systems worldwide, including a recent Washington Post op-ed by a U.S. Congressman suggesting a shadow government to keep an administration in check.
“So much for what is haram in a presidential system,” Utomi quipped, challenging detractors to engage in a more constructive dialogue about governance and innovation.
He noted that many lawmakers are defecting to the ruling party rather than holding it accountable, making an independent citizens-led alternative not just legitimate but imperative.
A Roadmap for Change
Utomi laid out an ambitious roadmap for the shadow cabinet over the coming months, which includes:
- Sectoral briefings on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and policy directions.
- Finalisation of cabinet committees by June 12, including those on Security, Economic Growth, and Budget & Fiscal Transfers.
- A cabinet retreat and adoption of a code of conduct for all shadow cabinet members by mid-July.
- The establishment of an Office of the Ombudsman for citizen complaints by June 30.
- Town Hall meetings in all six geopolitical zones to engage Nigerians directly.
- Development of a policy roadmap for coalition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A Moral Imperative
Utomi ended his address with an emotional appeal to members of the shadow team, urging them to embrace a higher calling in service of social justice and national unity.
“Immortality beckons on you,” he said. “To be forever in the thoughts of men is to never die.”
He emphasised the need to dismantle identity politics, promote meritocracy while respecting representation and affirmative action, and most importantly, uphold the dignity of the human person.
“We need to elevate human solidarity above political theatrics,” Utomi said. “The lives of millions are at stake.”
First Agenda Item: Power Sector Review
The session concluded with a presentation on the power sector by Dr. Jerome Okolo, signalling the beginning of policy reviews by various shadow portfolios.
As the Big Tent Shadow Cabinet sets out on this ambitious path, the coming weeks will test the resolve, creativity, and influence of this citizen-powered movement. Whether it can catalyse real accountability and reform—or be stifled by political resistance—remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Pat Utomi and his coalition are determined to chart a new course for Nigeria.
For more updates on the Big Tent Shadow Cabinet and reform efforts, stay tuned to [Your News Outlet Name].
