Pat Utomi: Nigeria’s Major Problem is Docility of Its Citizens

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Renowned Political Economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, has lamented that the major problem of the country  is the docility of its citizens, insisting that many Nigerians were at home with anything thrown at them.

He called on Nigerians to be dynamic and work on new approaches to hold government accountable, especially on their safety and general wellbeing.
Utomi made the call on yesterday in Abuja at a national conversation on building a new value system in Nigeria, with the theme: ‘A Public Sphere Conscious Movement –A Necessary Starting Point for the Journey to Redemption’.

He noted: “But this is not working. We are creating poverty everyday and I think this is a moral burden. Look at what the Zambian President is doing. So we need to re-think what we want and hold the leaders accountable. The day that person shows up in that fancy car, walk away from him and throw eggs at him.
“We allow them to get away with what they are doing to us, so we need to have a new approach to holding them accountable.”

He also said that the pride and dignity of human beings have been eroded in Nigeria and people engage in ‘verbal terrorism’ in the name of politics.
Utomi said: “From basic changes, we can get to more important national issues for national development. Raising a new tribe of patriots in Nigeria is important for all, thus the need for state of the nation and the urgent need for renewed strategic conversation by a critical mass of patriots.”

He lamented  that the present administration is toeing the line of its predecessor and even doing more damage, as can be seen in the appointment of partisan persons as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
According to him, this shows that President Bola  Tinubu, does not intend to make the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) work for democratic development of Nigeria.

Also speaking at the talk-shop, Dr. Sarah Jubril, a former Special Adviser on Ethics and Values to former President Goodluck Jonathan, urged Nigerians not to lose hope of a better Nigeria which pay premium on the wellbeing of citizenry.
On her part,  Nana Sani Kazaure, a spokesperson of Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, said that it is in the interest of the country for citizens to be positive about Nigeria’s chances to overcome its challenges and doors for prosperity.