Renowned economist and political activist, Professor Pat Utomi, has announced the formation of a shadow government under the “Big Tent Coalition,” presenting it as a credible opposition to the administration of President Bola Tinubu. The initiative was formally launched on Monday via a virtual platform and is intended to function as a “national emergency response” to what Utomi describes as policy failures and a deepening democratic crisis in Nigeria.
Utomi said the shadow cabinet comprises professionals, public intellectuals, and opposition voices from various political backgrounds. The team will meet weekly to scrutinize government policies, propose alternative solutions, and push for reforms across key sectors such as the economy, education, healthcare, infrastructure, law and order, and constitutional restructuring.
He criticised recent political defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress as evidence of a decaying democratic culture and accused the government of concealing poor policy execution behind political consensus. “The propaganda around unified agreement on removing the fuel subsidy only masked grave errors in the policy’s implementation,” Utomi said.
According to him, the country’s rising poverty levels and a wave of multinational company exits are the direct consequences of economic mismanagement. “Nothing is more urgent than tackling the rising poverty. Multinationals are shutting down and millions are unemployed,” he warned.
On security, Utomi advocated for decentralised policing, suggesting a layered structure comprising community-based police, state forces, and a Federal National Guard. He argued that centralisation and corruption have crippled Nigeria’s ability to enforce local security and called for empowering communities to take charge of their safety.
He also stressed that integrity and transparency will be the core pillars of the shadow government. “This shadow team must address issues of ethics, transparency, and integrity, which continue to challenge this government at every turn,” he added.
Among those appointed to the shadow cabinet is human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, who will head the Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio. Other prominent figures in the policy unit include Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Daniel Ikuonobe, Halima Ahmed, David Okonkwo, and Obi Ajuga.
The broader cabinet features a diverse range of experts including Dr Adefolusade Adebayo, Dr Otive Igbuzor, Eunice Atuejide, Gbenga Ajayi, Dr Omano Edigheji, Aisha Yusuf, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, and others. Utomi emphasised that the shadow government will not only serve as a think tank but also act as a watchdog to hold the current administration accountable while offering viable alternatives.
