Shadow Govt: FG Reacts, Says It’s An Abberration

The Federal government had knocked Professor Pat Utomi for forming a shadow government, saying the action negates Nigeria’s federal structure.

The Minister of Information Mohammed Idris made known the federal government position on the issue, in a statement on Tuesday.

Accordingly to Idris, Utomi’s action is way out of ‘bounds of propriety’, and an abberration to Nigeria’s fledging democracy.

Utomi, the magazine recalls, set up a Shadow government on Monday naming some Nigerians, including human rights activist, Dele Farotimi among others as members.

Utomi cited the alleged mismanagement of the nation’s economy, insecurity by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, as a major reason for his action, adding that the country is currently in a life support due to the mismanagement by the government.

The coalition, he said, is a response to the clarion calls from not a few Nigerians who are no longer happy with the direction the country is heading under the Tinubu’s administration.

He said the “Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government” will function as a credible opposition offering better ideas on how to move the country on a better direction.

Idris said the action is an abberration which has no precedent in the country as a federal system of government.

The Minister: “At a time when our nation is set to celebrate 26 unbroken years of presidential democracy, the idea of a so-called “shadow government” is an aberration.

 “Nigeria is not a parliamentary system where such a system is practised, and there is no provision for such in our statute books.

 “While opposition politics is a central feature of democracy, it must be practised at all times within the bounds of propriety.

 “This idea of a shadow government sadly does not pass that test. Our bicameral legislature amply features members of the opposition, and it should be the right place to contest meaningful ideas for nation-building.”

While setting up the group two days ago, Utomi challenged its members to live up to the expectations of Nigerians, saying their major functions is to proffer solutions to the  nation’s problems.

“Today, I bring to this pioneer body the desperate cries of a people troubled by how their reality seems bound for serfdom. I challenge you to awaken these people who wrongly believe that everything is fine as long as they can manage a share of what little still trickles down from crude oil sales,” Utomi said.

Apart from  Farotimi, who was named head of the Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio, others appointed to the policy delivery unit include Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Daniel Ikuonobe, Halima Ahmed, David Okonkwo, and Obi Ajuga.

Other members of the shadow cabinet include Dr. Adefolusade Adebayo, Dr. Peter Agadah, Dr. Sadiq Gombe, Chibuzor Nwachukwu, Salvation Alibor, Bilkisu Magoro, Dr. Victor Tubo, Charles Odibo, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Eunice Atuejide, Gbenga Ajayi, and Dr. Mani Ahmad, as well as Peter Oyewole and Dr. Omano Edigheji.

Recall that the All Progressives Congress, APC, then in opposition, had in 2015 vowed to form a shadow government, if former President Good luck Jonathan refused to handover power.