Pominent political economist and former presidential candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, has clarified that the shadow government initiative he launched is not a subversive effort to topple President Bola Tinubu’s administration, but a democratic tool to promote accountability and governance reform.
Utomi, who is currently facing legal action from the Department of State Services over the move, made the clarification on Sunday during the 4th edition of the Topaz Lecture Series hosted by the University of Lagos Mass Communication Class of 1988 Alumni Association.
Speaking on the theme “Shadow Government: A Distraction or Necessity?”, Utomi said the initiative, rather than being an affront to the Federal Government, is designed to stimulate issue-based debate, provide alternative policy options, and enhance democratic engagement.
“This is not an attempt to overthrow or undermine the government, but to foster constructive criticism and accountability,” he said during the virtual lecture attended by media professionals, academics, and civil society leaders.
He explained that the concept of a shadow cabinet is a globally recognised democratic practice, particularly within parliamentary systems, where opposition figures critique government policy and offer alternatives.
According to him, Nigeria stands to benefit from similar models that encourage performance, transparency, and ideological depth.
The political economist revealed that he had presented the concept as far back as 2008 to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and had continued funding the shadow cabinet from his personal resources ever since.
His comments come amid mounting scrutiny, as a Federal High Court in Abuja last week granted an ex parte motion filed by the DSS, allowing service of court documents on Utomi.
The agency is suing him over alleged attempts to establish a parallel government.
Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the case, approved the motion brought by the DSS’s lead counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), in a suit that has sparked fresh debate over civic freedoms, dissent, and political expression in Nigeria.
Responding to questions about the legality of the term “shadow cabinet,” Utomi said, “If the court finds fault with the name, we will simply change it.
Our commitment is not to nomenclature, but to values. Nigeria urgently needs a space where policies are debated and where the government is constructively challenged to do better.”
He also warned of growing anti-intellectualism in Nigeria’s political sphere and elite complacency in the face of systemic failure.
According to him, without strong institutions and active citizen participation, the country risks deeper social instability.
Utomi emphasised that the initiative’s ultimate aim is to provide a platform that bridges the gap between leadership and the governed, and to ensure democratic governance goes beyond mere electoral cycles.
The shadow cabinet idea has drawn mixed reactions, with critics dismissing it as unnecessary political grandstanding, while supporters view it as a timely intervention amid widespread dissatisfaction with governance and the perceived absence of ideological leadership in Nigerian politics.
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