By Myke Agunwa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has taunted political economist and politician, Prof. Pat Utomi, over his declaration of a coalition shadow government, describing him as an “intellectual drama king”.
Utomi had earlier in April 24, said he is mobilizing 7.2 million Nigerians from all geo-political zones that will converge in Abuja for a protest tagged “Freedom Converge,” against the government of President Bola Tinubu and the APC.
He noted that the protest aims to reclaim the country from “entrenched systems of state capture and self-serving leadership” and return power to the masses.
He lamented that “The recent spate of defections to the APC provides further evidence that all is not well with democracy in Nigeria”.
Reacting to the issues, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka dismissed Utomi’s claim that the shadow government was a response to the “policy missteps” of the federal government, which he said had worsened poverty and silenced dissenting views.
Morka said Utomi had always enjoyed the full liberty to express his thoughts and form coalitions, regardless of their lack of realism or traction.
“Utomi’s unilateral declaration of a ‘shadow government’, in a presidential democracy, is, in and of itself, an exercise of democratic freedom and free speech, in the extreme,” the statement reads in part.
Morka described as “reckless” and “irresponsible” Utomi’s comparison of Nigeria’s current political climate to Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
He added that such comparisons were beneath Utomi’s intellectual standing and revealed a descent into “sensational and virulent discourse.
He argued that President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s tolerance of dissent is evident in the freedom Utomi has to make such pronouncements without consequence.
Morka said Utomi’s string of failed political attempts, from seeking the APC governorship ticket in Delta in 2019 to his involvement in Peter Obi’s 2023 campaign, has taken a toll on his sense of judgment.
He said Utomi was revising history by accusing the government of weaponising the removal of the petrol subsidy.
“Simply exploiting and dramatizing what are inevitable initial difficulties associated with the policies Nigerians have had to endure for sustainable growth and prosperity is not genius; it smacks of crass political opportunism and desperation,” Morka said.
He added that it is not the duty of the ruling APC to organise or educate opposition parties on how to manage their internal affairs.
He said opposition figures who claim to have superior solutions for Nigeria’s challenges should first show capacity by managing their parties effectively.
“The wave of defections into the APC… is a clear endorsement of the visionary and inclusive leadership of President Bola Tinubu,” Morka said.
He said those joining the APC have chosen “patriotism over partisanship” and are ready to help reposition Nigeria under Tinubu’s leadership.