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| Utomi Unveils Colours of the Opposition |
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| Written by News Hound | ||||||
| Friday, 11 January 2008 | ||||||
      Prof. Pat Utomi ADC Presidential Candidate and Coalition Coordinator, Prof. Pat Utomi declared in Lagos today while also disclosing 25th of January the date of the formal kickoff meeting of the shadow cabinet in Abuja. Prof. Utomi spoke on the way to an East Asian tour where he hopes to persuade business leaders that Nigeria is ready for major infrastructure investments and manufacturing sector resurrection. Acknowledging improved conditions for democratic conduct in Nigeria since the exit of the last government, Utomi praised President Yar'Adua for promoting the rule of law and welcomed Yar'Adua's desire to see a viable opposition. He said that the nature of the institutionalized opposition the coalition is erecting will more closely resemble the pattern being laid out by Conservative leader David Cameron than the typical tradition in which no good is seen in the power incumbents. "The coalition", he said, "while waiting for the outcome of the petitions of several potential spokespersons in the shadow government who were gubernatorial candidates in 2007, had been busy working on a truly interactive citizen-involved alternatives regime such as electronic platforms. Prof. Utomi indicated that the character of the shadow initiative, designed to provide a working basis for plural-democracy in this post military-rule Nigeria that has not experienced properly articulated opposition, will have features that recognize that Nigeria does not have a Westminster model of democracy. "This will mean that the leadership may come from outside of the National Assembly but will have structural arrangements for using linkages with opposition members of the National Assembly to advance a legislative agenda." He further indicated that groups of goodwill, like the Integrity group, which may not be in opposition, technically, would be partners in the Rainbow coalition's commitment to pushing forward the Common Good through an organized opposition. Utomi explained that the central guiding philosophy of the opposition is to engage the public space robustly to truly create a marketplace of ideas and policy alternatives, ensure full accountability for all public office holders, and use civil society initiatives to directly impact the lives of the citizenry. He identified the priorities of the coalition cabinet to include job creation, rebuilding institutions, infrastructure resuscitation and restoration of peace and prosperity to troubled regions like the Niger Delta. The political economist stated the team was convinced that unleashing entrepreneurial energies, as government focuses on social sectors like education and health care, and some critical infrastructure, would trigger rapid economic growth. He said "this has to be done protecting the weakest and using affirmative action to prevent escalation of the imminent danger of wide income distribution". On the structure and manning of the shadow regime, Utomi said the cabinet is a collection of spokespersons for teams covering all aspects of endeavor requiring governmental action. He said the teams have drawn membership from Nigerians with competence and passion for nation building around the world. These teams have been injected with politicians from among whom many of the spokespersons are drawn. "In addition to the cabinet, there is also a Council of Senior Advisers made up of former leaders drawn from government, the judiciary, the Military, Civil Society, and the Private sector." Even though the council has been likened to an alternate Council of state, Utomi says "this non-partisan body will be a little more active as a clearinghouse for the position of the shadow team and will be more broadly reflective of the society than the Council of State". "In keeping with the philosophy of tripartite collaboration between public sector, private sector and civil society, the council, which is to choose its Chairman, is being encouraged to set the tone by picking someone not defined by their leadership position in government in a previous era. It is thought that Dr Christopher Kolade would be favoured in that role." Prof. Utomi also indicated the creation of non-traditional ministerial departments to deal with issues, which he said, "respond to the grave urgency of these moments". These include the Niger Delta which has Amagbe Kentebe as spokesperson, Diaspora Affairs with Prof. Issa Odidi, Youth Economic Empowerment with Ms Ankio Briggs, International Trade and industry(MITI) with Engr Ibrahim Usman and Chief Okey Nwosu, Gateway cities Special Development with Tunde Akinleye, Women Economic Empowerment with Charity Shekari, and Abuja Suburban with Mani Ibrahim. Other new areas include Special Education for which the spokesperson is Hadjia B Magoro, Infrastructure, with Dr Adiele Nwankwo, Prof. Bolaji Aluko, and Charles Gilbert as spokesperson; Rural Integrated Development with Ayo Ighodaro; and legislative Agenda with Chidi Odinkalu. He said that the names in the full team will follow conclusion of the tribunals and that the website unveiled by the end of January. Regular briefings on the work of the team, he stated, will come from the Information, Communication, and Ideology spokespersons Emmanuel Ibeshi and Mohammed Ibrahim and Alhaji Yahaya Ndu.  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