Pat Utomi, Nigerian professor of political economy and former presidential candidate, recently spoke from the United States about his Shadow Government initiative, opposition politics, and the future of Nigeria.

Utomi, who formed the Shadow Government in 2008 to deepen democracy by offering alternative policy ideas, said the recent government action against it was surprising.

“First, I formed this government in 2008. Why are they waking up today? This new excitement is strange to me. It is a testament about the deterioration of our democratic ethos in the country,” he stated.

Asked about his political affiliation, Utomi said he is focusing on coordinating activities across several parties rather than belonging to one.

“There are Labour Party people in this Shadow arrangement, there are people from SDP, there are people from ADC and several other parties,” he explained.

On why he won’t contest elections again despite his political involvement, Utomi said, “The office is little or no interest to me because the kind of scoundrels that fill that space are so focused on using politics for their self-interest.”

He added that he once turned down an offer to be a minister from the late President Yar’Adua, choosing instead to maintain an honest opposition voice.

He also reflected on his past cooperation with President Bola Tinubu, noting, “Tinubu, when he was governor of Lagos, I was leader of his cabinet retreats… I charged nothing because I thought it was my citizen’s duty.”

Responding to questions about turmoil in the Labour Party, Utomi denied any crisis, attributing tensions to external agents. “There is no crisis in Labour Party. In every Nigerian political party, you’ve got people who are really agents… So, the best thing is to ignore them.”

Utomi emphasized his vision of a united opposition through his “Big Tent” initiative, designed to include members from multiple parties to strengthen collective political impact.

He plans to return to Nigeria in June for the June 12 celebrations and continues to engage actively in Nigerian politics from abroad.