Nigeria's Democratic Decline Started in 1999 with Undesirables in Power, Says Pat Utomi

Political economist, academic, and former presidential candidate Professor Pat Utomi has identified Nigeria's return to civilian rule in 1999 as the origin of the nation's most profound political and moral failures. He contends that the abandonment of principles in favour of raw power struggles has contaminated public discourse and hollowed out the essence of democracy.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Wednesday, as he marked his 70th birthday, Utomi reflected on Nigeria's historical trajectory, its current state, and its future prospects. He also discussed the personal sacrifices made throughout his life for advocating that ideas, values, and integrity should guide political actions.

When asked about life's lessons concerning Nigeria that he wished he had grasped earlier, Utomi suggested that the country's challenges require a long- term historical perspective.

He recounted a conversation with Reverend Father George Ehusani, who reminded him of Socrates. Ehusani sought to console Utomi, suggesting he should not be disheartened if his lifelong advocacy has not yet shaped Nigeria. He drew a parallel, noting that Socrates, despite being forced to drink poison, laid the foundation for Western civilisation through his ideas. Utomi expressed a similar sentiment, hoping that Nigeria might yet achieve greatness after his passing, owing to the concepts he has articulated.

Utomi conveyed his enduring hope of witnessing Nigeria's progress within his own lifetime, emphasising that the nation possesses a unique historical mandate.

"I believe Nigeria was gifted to humanity to redeem the trampled dignity of the Black man and to reverse the road to serfdom paved by colonial oppression and slavery," he stated. "If we focus on being a redeeming generation, we could walk away feeling we helped make Nigeria the trigger for that redemption."

Addressing whether Nigeria is more receptive to ideas or power, Utomi observed that the nation has turned away from intellectual leadership.

"At a point in our history, people turned away from valuing ideas," he said. "If you read Obafemi Awolowo in his 30s and 40s, he was a profound philosopher. If you listen to Fela Anikulapo Kuti, he was one of the great philosophers of all time."

He pinpointed the military regime and the abundance of oil wealth as the critical turning points.

"What I call the dangerous alchemy of soldiers and oil changed everything," Utomi remarked. "The military is centralising by nature, while Nigeria’s founders chose a decentralised federal structure. Then oil revenues began to flow, and we created a prebendal culture — a rent economy where people focused on how much they could extract from the system."

This transition, he explained, led to the degradation of public life.

"Less deserving people moved into public office. Culture was poisoned by ‘me, myself and I’. Consuming narcissism pushed thought aside. People began to say, ‘my grandma go chop’, and they missed how societies actually develop," he observed.

Utomi cautioned that power wielded without guiding principles results in lasting damage.

"Power is not everything," he stated. "You can get power and use it to do so much evil, and in the end you will be remembered as the person who destroyed possibilities."

Reflecting on the personal toll of speaking out against those in power, Utomi acknowledged that the consequences were significant and persistent.

"Oh, plenty, plenty, plenty," he responded. "This culture despises truth- tellers. Somebody suddenly becomes deputy governor of the Central Bank through a nepotistic system and decides that anyone associated with someone who speaks truth should be frozen out."

He indicated that this repeatedly jeopardized his financial stability.

"All your efforts to build basic material security can be ruined, and for me it happened regularly," Utomi said. "So I had to devise a survival strategy. I didn’t want my children to suffer because I chose the path of rectitude."

Utomi explained that he worked substantially harder than his peers and diversified his professional activities across different continents.

"I had jobs on three continents. If Nigeria froze me out, I still earned enough to pay my children’s school fees and give them an upper-middle-class upbringing," he said. "Yes, there were lots of costs."

Describing Nigeria's democracy as "procedural but hollow," Utomi stated that the country has witnessed a rotation of elites rather than a genuine transformation of governance.

"Nigeria has been painfully disappointing because people in public office allowed self-love to exceed care for the people," he said. "Public life should be about the pursuit of immortality — sacrificing for the common good."

He added that the political culture has worsened with the normalization of hate speech and division.

"The most terrible thing the political class has done is make hate part of our culture," Utomi stated. "Dividing people by ethnicity or religion for power does lasting damage. Economic growth cannot take place in such an environment."

Despite these challenges, he expressed optimism.

"The possibilities for a great Nigeria still exist," he said. "Leadership can emerge that thinks inclusively and focuses on the greater good, not the little things people grab and leave behind when they die."

Regarding the increasing number of educated Nigerians leaving the country, Utomi suggested that what appears to be a brain drain could eventually transform into a brain gain.

"I once wrote an essay titled The Generation That Left Town," he recalled. "Those who got the best education in Nigeria never really governed the country. But what we call brain drain may become brain gain."

He further elaborated: "If you look at Japan, China and India, the diaspora played a key role. I believe Nigeria’s renaissance will come from its diaspora."

When asked about the perspective of younger Nigerians towards his generation, Utomi reported a mixed but encouraging response.

"All this celebration of my turning 70 was organised by my mentees," he said. "Young businesspeople funded everything. I see many young people who value what we tried to do."

He cited examples like Paradigm Initiative founder Gbenga Sesan and entrepreneurs involved in Enugu's developing innovation hubs.

"These are young people doing remarkable things, and I’ve had the privilege of walking with them," Utomi added.

If he had the opportunity to revise one aspect of Nigeria's post-military history, Utomi identified 1999 as the critical juncture.

"Clearly, 1999," he affirmed. "When the military was leaving, many credible people did not trust that the military was truly going away. They stayed out, and undesirables moved into politics. We’ve been paying the price since."

He lamented the loss of a political environment where disagreements could occur without animosity.

"Politicians used to campaign during the day and play tennis together in the evening," he recalled. "That ended in 1999."

On the question of whether ideas can still salvage Nigeria, Utomi maintained that ideas remain paramount.

"I never thought of myself as a man of ideas; I thought I was practical," he stated. "But ideas rule the world. There is nothing concrete that did not start from a theory."

Drawing inspiration from Singapore's remarkable transformation, Utomi expressed confidence that Nigeria's aspirations are achievable.

"In one generation, Singapore went from third world to first," he concluded. "I believe Nigeria’s possibilities remain. Nigeria will be a great country."

Boluwatife Enome