June 12: Anarchy or young Nigerians will “run these characters out of government” – Prof Pat Utomi

A Nigerian professor of political economy and management, Prof. Pat Utomi has called on young Nigerians to run the current crop of leaders out of power.

Utomi made this remark as one of the lead discussants on a webinar held in commemoration of the 2020 June 12 Democracy day, on June 12, 2020.

Although he admitted that he was still a member of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Utomi said it is only by running the current set of leaders out of power that Nigeria can be saved.

He said if the youths of the country don’t force a change in government, anarchy would.

“The blockage is hard, these characters who run Nigeria today, are so unable to understand what is wrong with what they are doing.

“They are going to try and stop these young people but I don’t think they will succeed. These young people will run them out eventually.

“If the young people don’t run them out, anarchy will run them out of power.” he said.

Calling on young professionals in Nigeria to say “Never Again” to their leaders, the former presidential candidate said he has written Nigeria off already.

“It is only in that way that Nigeria will be saved.

“Nigeria is gone, I’ve written it off already.

“Some of us are old now, we need a new set of professionals, the 32 year-olds, to say never again and pull our country back from where it is now.” he added.

Utomi was a member of a discussion panel that included Nigerian human rights activist, Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN, Convener of the BringBackOurGirls Movement, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, women’s rights activist, Dr Joe Okei Odumakin, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Obadiah Mailafia and many others.

The webinar was held in recognition of the annulled June 12, 1992 election for which Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO Abiola) was imprisoned by President Ibrahim Babangida, after declaring himself winner.

On June 6, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 Nigeria’s Democracy Day, which was formerly May 29, in commemoration of the day the military handed over power in 1999, to a democratically elected president.

Buhari’s decision to recognise the day of the annulled election was met with more acclaim than dismissal.

“In the view of Nigerians, as shared by this administration, June 12, 1993 was far more symbolic of democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29 or even the October 1.

“June 12, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our independence.

“The fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then military government does not distract from the democratic credentials of that process.” Buhari had said at the time.

He also went on to bestow Abiola with the highest national honour, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).