Renowned political economist and former presidential candidate, Professor Pat Utomi, has disclosed that Nigerians are rallying support to defend him against a lawsuit filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over his involvement in what has been described as a “shadow government.”...CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING.>>
In a post on social media platform X, Utomi revealed that “some want to put together 500 lawyers to defend me against the DSS,” expressing gratitude for the growing wave of solidarity from citizens nationwide.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The DSS filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja on May 13, accusing Utomi of attempting to establish an alternative governing structure, an act the agency deems unconstitutional and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic order; The suit, filed by SAN Akinlolu Kehinde, seeks a judicial declaration rendering the so-called shadow government illegal.
Reacting to the legal challenge, Utomi stated, “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.”
The concept of a shadow cabinet, typically a feature of parliamentary systems, has sparked debate; Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore called it symbolic and ineffective.
Speaking on Channels TV, Sowore remarked, “How do you replace a shadow government with another set of shadowy governments?”
While opinions differ on the initiative’s merit, the development has rekindled national dialogue around civic engagement and the boundaries of political dissent in a democratic setting.
As the legal process unfolds, all eyes remain on how the judiciary will interpret the balance between freedom of expression and national security in this evolving saga.
