Remarks by Prof Pat Utomi at the inauguration of the Big Tent coalition Shadow Government.
A SHADOW ALTERNATIVE TO DEEPEN DEMOCRACY
Fellow Compatriots.
The recent spate of defections to the APC provide further evidence that all is not well with Democracy in Nigeria. It is clear that politicians who fear prosecution for financial crimes against humanity, and the Nigerian people, who are ravaged by poverty brought to them by poor governance, corruption of politicians, and lack of accountability, are running into a room where their crimes can be swept under the carpet with a broom that has allowed many who should be in jail to be in positions of authority.
These reversals of the essence of democracy is now symptomatic of extant Nigerian experience. Yet the Afrobarometer measures, year after year, from their surveys of Nigerians, indicate we desire democracy but are frustrated that democracy is being subverted in the reality of current experience.
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.
On May 1 2024 The New Tribe formally unveiled its portal thenewtribe.ng and 14 cohorts of Nigerians at home and abroad to bring citizens together to seed society with new ways of shaping progress in Nigeria. The outcomes of the first set of activities which laid out alternative ways for healthcare, education, infrastructure development, security, Law and order, and paths to policy formulation and monitoring have been rewarding. But the urgency of now is in raising public consciousness on extant failings of government to facilitate the better ideas for governance.
In recent years re-imaging a new Nigeria has become a matter of grave urgency as those in power, like Nero fiddling while Rome burnt, continue junketing around the world at the expense of a people who have now returned to a per capita income less than before Independence and Oil boom, as AfDB President Dr Akin Adesina recently told his audience. The current existential crisis facing Nigeria, a country of once proud people now caught in a web of fear for their lives as the Leviathan continues in apparent drugged slumber while those who used to farm are forgetting how to, and productivity declines.
While the orientation of thenewtribe is rooted in civil society, action is best facilitated by an organization of political actors. This has led us to a Shadow cabinet, with the Big Tent drawing the cabinet from several opposition parties. Today I bring to this pioneer body the desperate cries of a people troubled by how their reality seems bound for serfdom, and challenge you to wake up these people who think all is well if they can just manage for themselves a share in what little still trickles down from Crude Oil sales.
The very important subject of Constitution reform will be co-ordinated by Wale Okuniyi, while Prof Chris Ogbechie will lead the central initiative of a culturing the Spirit of Entetprise
The Agenda of Urgency
Nothing can be more urgent than taming the increasing poverty of the people. Legions of people are out of work with so many multinationals closing shop. The departure of two of them can be used here as examples to show how little thinking went into policies that have made the economy tank.
Procter and Gamble and Diageo departures were spectacularly indicative of the poor management of the economy.
The resort to propaganda as 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. Like Joseph Goebbels inoculated thinking Germans to Hitler’s deadly path, a massive shower of propaganda insults seek to prevent patriots from factually critiquing policy choice of government, and the behaviour of its agents, which can have more negative consequences on our well being . It shows they do not understand why some nations stay poor while others thrive.
Buying ‘befitting’ presidential jets and ministers driving around in Rolls Royces in a time of hunger, can do so much more harm than a poor policy choice.
P and G is a relatively new arrival in Nigeria. Anyone who understands Competitive Strategy will know that with saturation in the consumer products in the US and Europe large population growth economies would be natural for sustained superior performance for such a company. To move out so soon is clearly a vote of no confidence in how Nigeria is progressing.
For Diageo who for years made the point that more Guiness was consumed in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world outside Ireland, it should not be in a rush to leave if policy was sensibly articulated.
If the government wants an example of how to deal with policy prescriptions from outside under pressure, as it is obvious it is motivated more by second guessing Paris and Bretton Woods Institutions, it can go back to the playbook of Mahathir Mohammed of Malaysia during the Asian Financial crisis of 1997.
Making propaganda of most leaders being in agreement on removing 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. Did we not learn anything from SAP. The great lag of the J-curve managed not to spur production because necessary trigger of entrepreneurship through Infustrial policy did not happen in the 1990s reform of .
The key to economic growth, which is the desperate need of the moment is how to stimulate production. That depends so much on how entrepreneurship sprouts from policy, spurning value chains where production can result in quantum leaps in value creation. Of this the incumbents remain clueless as they contend with rent seeking activity.
If they had an idea of what they are doing in this regard the power sector would not be in the state it currently is in. They are welcome to study the moves of Vietnam and China in this area.
Unfortunately corruption and short sighted self interest has prevented sensible policy choice and passionate implementation.
The argument that pain from policies were inevitable is giving the lie by the wasteful use of public resources for executive comfort in Jets, Yacht, and frequent travel. Pain evenly spread breeds consensus that accelerate implementation.
Urgently needed is a coherent economic growth strategy. You should feel free to offer one. Do not worry if they steal it and use it. The gain is for Nigeria.
I have already shared my views of piggybacking on factor endowments to build value chains around limited Industrial policy based on latent comparative advantage to sustain Industrial parks in all six geopolitical zones.
SECURITY
The security situation in the country requires close attention. In many parts of Benue and Plateau people have deserted their homes and whole communities have fled rampaging terrorists. WwThere is no obvious strategy to deal with the security situation. 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.
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 upon which will be layered State police and a Federal National Guard. It appears the corruption ‘benefit’ of centralization is fanning rationalization of centralization. If the DG of the DSS can say what he said about communities defending themselves it means the truth is known in those corridors.
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 cause the emphasis to return to the people and the enabling of their pursuit of happiness. That is the purpose of government. Too much misery parades itself in our country and it needs to be forced out.
I have followed the case of India as a scholar and friend of many Indians and I have confidence we can turn this mess in Nigeria around. Surely Nigeria will rise up again and that charge is in your hands.
This shadow team has also to deal with matters of ethics, transparency and integrity that seems 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 quality input.
Such ethics affect sustainable economic development and should be put on the front burner.
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.
I am pleased to welcome you all to this shadow team . Let me begin by pointing out three unique features of this shadow cabinet. These are the Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio to be manned by Dele Farotimi; and the policy Delivery Unit team of Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Daniel Ikuonobe, Halima Ahmed, David Okonkwo and Obi Ajuga. The third is a council of economic advisers.
The shadow cabinet members include:
Dr Adefolusade Adebayo
Arch Dr Peter Agadah
Dr Sadiq Gombe
Chibuzor Nwachukwu
Salvation Alibor
Bilkisu Magoro
Dr Victor Tubo
Charles Odibo
Eunice Atuejide
Gbenga Ajayi
Dr Mani Ibrahim Ahmad
Bar. Peter Iyiola Oyewole
Amb. Lilliane S.
Dr Omano Edigheji
Sidi Nasser Ali l
Ibrahim Abdukarim
Nuhu Yakubu
Adenike Oriola
Bar. Promise Adewusi –
Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie
Dr Victor Tubo
Mr Ambrose Obimma
Prince Rwang Pam Jnr.
Dr. Kingsley Anedo
Prof Auwal Aliyu
Dr Ghazali Ado
Ms Nana Kazaure
Aisha Yusuf
Dr Otive Igbuzor
Dr Charles Gilbert
Olujimi Akiboh
Let me conclude these remarks by raising a point about civility and the desire for a developmental state.
Modernity and Democracy meet at the point of rational public conversation I have often pointed out, referencing the contemporary philosopher of the public sphere, Jurgen Habermas. But we have seen those unprepared and unable who turn to propaganda and emotions of ethnicity and religion to carve chasms setting off us and them divides that have no bearing on governance for the common good. I want to urge all of you to remain ever focused on the need for civility in public conversation. Stay with issues no matter how hard they try to make it ad hominem. Also be mindful that our compass has a developmental state as its true North. Dr Omano Edigheji is here to encourage that path so never let their reaction distract you from the focus. Reflect on the point made by AfDB President that GDP per capita in Nigeria at $824 is worse than at Independence in 1960 and the comparison of Nigeria and Quatar by PLO Lumumba to motivate passionate commitment to this sacrificial assignment.
I have no doubt you will do a great job and history will remember you kindly.
Patrick Okedinachi Utomi
Convener,Big Tent.
