Renowned political economist and former presidential candidate, Professor Pat Utomi, has expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of support he has received from Nigerians across the country, as he faces mounting pressure from the Department of State Services (DSS).
In a passionate message shared on social media, Utomi described the messages of solidarity as energizing, particularly as some Nigerians rally together to organize legal defenses against the DSS.
“I am heartened by messages of solidarity from across Nigeria on this shadowy business of chasing shadows of shadow cabinets. Reminds me of the Nigeria I used to know,” Utomi wrote, referencing his ongoing struggle for democracy in the face of intimidation. “I want to thank all. It’s energizing some want to put together 500 lawyers to defend me against the DSS.”
The esteemed professor, who has long been an advocate for democratic governance in Nigeria, drew historical parallels with the country’s past, recalling his leadership role in organizing a conference on democracy during the brutal Sani Abacha era.
That conference, which took place at St. Leo’s Church in Ikeja, Lagos, was an attempt to ignite conversation about Nigeria’s future amid the military dictatorship.
Utomi’s involvement in that pivotal event led him to ponder the current state of the nation’s democracy.
“It was put as a question: Is this how democracy dies in Nigeria? The answer is in the affirmative. This is how democracy died in Nigeria. Where citizens cannot organize themselves to ask questions of their agents,” Utomi stated, lamenting the erosion of democratic freedoms in the current political climate.
Despite the mounting threats and intimidation, Utomi vowed not to go into hiding. Drawing on his resolve and the lessons of history, he expressed a defiant spirit.
“Where am I? I will arrive on June 12 and head to Abiola’s residence. My hands are primed for handcuffs and if the Aquino treatment from Marcos, bullet at the Airport is preferred, I submit willingly like a lamb led to slaughter,” he said, referencing the brutal treatment of political opponents under past regimes.
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Utomi’s unwavering commitment to democracy comes at a time when the political climate in Nigeria is becoming increasingly tense under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Reflecting on the broader struggle, Utomi shared his thoughts on Nigeria’s continued struggle for freedom.
He poignantly noted that death holds no fear for him, emphasizing the importance of fighting for the country’s democratic future.
“Death is no big deal. Four of my friends are in the morgue. What is certain is that Tinubu will not escape that same fate. He may have been in London when I faced the assassins under Abacha and been the supplier to Chief Enahoro and NADECO abroad of reports of my position on matters of the struggle, but we all ultimately go the way of man,” Utomi declared.
He also paid homage to global icons of non-violent resistance, invoking the spirits of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and St. Thomas More as his guiding lights in the face of adversity.
“I raise the meaning of being for what is left of my time on this stage,” he wrote, reflecting on the urgency of the moment.
In his closing remarks, Utomi echoed a sense of fatalism tempered with hope, drawing from the poetic musings of Carl Sagan, whose final words on the fragility of human existence were immortalized in the image of Earth captured by a NASA spacecraft.
“A spec of dust, home to tyrants who have threatened Rivers of Blood; and also to all those we have loved. I am emboldened to chant Freedom now, if we die we die,” Utomi concluded.
As Nigeria faces a critical moment in its journey toward democracy, Professor Pat Utomi’s words serve as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who continue to fight for a freer, fairer society.
His call to action and unwavering resolve is a beacon for many who seek to see Nigeria realize its full democratic potential.