From inside Nigeria, renowned professor and political economist, Pat Utomi, has called on citizens to stand against individuals he described as “thugs masquerading as leaders.” Speaking ahead of the June 12 Democracy Day, Utomi reflected on Nigeria’s current political challenges and urged Nigerians to demand better governance from those in power.
Utomi, known for his critical views on the state of democracy in Nigeria, said many of those in leadership positions do not embody the principles of service and integrity. Instead, he believes some leaders are driven by self-interest and act more like gangsters than public servants.
Referencing the views of Kenyan academic and lawyer PLO Lumumba, Utomi noted how Lumumba often compares Nigeria’s condition to countries like Qatar. According to Utomi, this comparison usually leaves Nigerian elites uncomfortable.
“From inside, we hear it every day from people like PLO Lumumba who often shows off Nigeria’s failings when he compares with Qatar, as Nigerian elite in his audience grin sheepishly as if they do not realise it is about them he is speaking. But what he says is the truth,” he said.
In remembrance of key figures who fought for democracy in Nigeria, Utomi shared plans to hold a short moment of silence at midday on June 12. He said this act will honour heroes like the late Chief MKO Abiola, widely seen as the symbol of the 1993 election struggle, along with others such as Tunde Akinleye and elder statesman Papa Ayo Adebanjo.
Utomi also pointed to the book Tropical Gangsters by development expert Robert Klitgaard. He said the book’s title accurately reflects the way some African countries are being led, suggesting that power in these regions is often in the hands of people who operate like gangsters rather than leaders.
June 12 marks Nigeria’s Democracy Day and serves as a tribute to the 1993 elections, which are considered one of the most transparent in Nigeria’s history. Utomi used the occasion to urge Nigerians to reflect on the values of democracy and to reject leaders who exploit the system for personal gain.
