Utomi: I’m willing to face firing squad if it stops the mess in Nigeria

Pat Utomi, a professor of political economy, says Nigeria needs a generational shift in leadership to emerge from the woods.

He added that young Nigerians “are complicit” in the leadership crisis and “state capture” bedevilling the country.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Wednesday, Utomi said politicians have continued to exploit Nigeria’s diversity for their gains.

He added that the country will get better if people of character and commitment to service assume positions of authority.

Utomi, who was a presidential aide at 27, lamented that these days, people get into positions of authority based on their ethnic affiliations rather than their competence.

Asked if it was time for the older generation to quit the stage for the younger ones, he said: “I’m willing to go to the firing squad if it could stop the mess in Nigeria.”

The founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) said the biggest problem confronting the country is the “collapse of culture”, which he said has led to the creation of weak institutions.

“We have converted what is our biggest strength — our diversity — into a weakness. Nigeria has great strengths in its diversity. Weak and horrible politicians have chosen to exploit it in a manner where emotions have stopped reason,” he said.

“Importantly, the biggest challenge we have is that culture is in collapse in Nigeria. Values shape human progress.

“How do we get a values revolution? Institutions are critical for human progress if we can commit to building stronger institutions that push back on people who do not do right and the rule of law is fully in place.

“Look at our judiciary, it is a laughing stock. It is a joke. No country can make real progress without a judiciary that you can rely on. Look at our other institutions, whether it is INEC or others, they are weak.

“How do we ensure that we have strong institutions and that we have values that really ensure that character matters and that people of character can show a light? We can do it, I am absolutely confident because I have seen it happen in human history.

“Ultimately, values shape human progress, when we have the right values, when people of character and commitment to service are in positions of authority, then our country will turn around.”