Utomi Calls for Strong Political Party in Nigeria

Renowned professor of political economy, Pat Utomi, has said Nigeria needs to build a great political party that can make the country better. 

He stated this during his appearance on Arise TV, on Tuesday. He noted that Nigeria is not a working democracy due to the absence of ‘real; political parties.

According to Utomi, Nigeria is the only country where elections are used as a means of consolidating authority.

He said, “Nigeria is not a working democracy, and part of our efforts is to make our democracy work before people think about the next election. Countries don’t grow by waiting for the next electoral process; countries grow through the founding of political parties.

“I can say without any feeling of wrongness that we don’t have a political party in Nigeria today. What we have been able to couple together since 199 has been a platform for machine politics, where the game is to grab power rightly or wrongly and share spoils.”

He continued by saying that he has discussed a merger to improve the nation with the front-runners in the general elections in 2023.

Utomi said: In the last week, I’ve had significant conversations with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso and Mr. Peter Obi.

“My view is clear on this matter, let’s build a great party that can make Nigeria better. When we then build it, the people from different social movements, in addition to the political parties that come into this one party, subscribe to certain values and ideologies of how you make a nation happen, can then present those who seem interested can go forward.

“This is what Nigeria needs, and must have but shouldn’t be about some individuals advertising that they are the ones who should go forward, Nigerians will determine that.”