By Chido Nwakanma
There are parallels in the evolving clash between Professor Pat Utomi and the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and a previous era in Nigeria’s political development.
Rewind, if you will, to 1993 and 1994. The Sani Abacha-led federal military government maintained a seemingly firm grip on power after imprisoning the winner of the June 12, 1993, election, Chief MKO Abiola. While they exuded confidence, they also harboured fears of their shadows.
Pat Utomi entered the fray immediately following the annulment. He wrote a compelling Op-Ed in The Guardian urging professionals, intellectuals, and the middle class to resist the military.
The phrase “We Must Say Never Again” is the title of a pivotal op-ed written by Professor Pat Utomi in The Guardian newspaper in 1993. This article was a direct response to the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election in Nigeria. Utomi’s piece acted as a rallying cry for professionals across the nation to oppose the military’s actions and advocate for the restoration of democracy.
The Op-Ed’s impact was profound, leading to the formation of the Concerned Professionals (CP), a coalition of Nigerian professionals—including lawyers, doctors, academics, and business leaders—who united to challenge the military dictatorship. The CP employed both intellectual discourse and public demonstrations to call for a return to democratic governance.
In a 2023 reflection, Utomi recounted:
“In 1993, Sam Oni, Atedo Peterside, and I signed an invitation to professionals to come out and show that politics was too important and serious to be left to politicians alone. That was in the aftermath of the annulment of the June 12 elections. The holla to Professionals followed reactions to my Oped piece in the Guardian titled ‘We must say Never Again’.”
The Concerned Professionals, a group of Nigerian intellectuals and professionals, issued their notable challenge in 1994. At that time, Nigeria was under the military rule of General Sani Abacha, and widespread discontent prevailed among Nigerians and civic groups advocating for a return to democratic governance.
In their challenge, the Concerned Professionals demanded a transition from military rule to civilian democracy and called for leadership that would be accountable, transparent, and dedicated to national development. They criticised the military regime’s repressive policies, lack of political freedoms, and economic mismanagement.
A key public statement or challenge issued by the Concerned Professionals during this period emphasised:
• A rejection of military dictatorship and suppression of civil liberties.
• There is an urgent need for political reforms and a civil transition program.
• Calls for free elections and the establishment of democratic institutions.
Their challenge was fundamentally a rallying cry for Nigerians to come together and demand democratic change, as well as oppose authoritarian rule.
The group also took part in protests, symposiums, and advocacy campaigns during this time, contributing to the increasing pressure on the military government.
Context:
• Military Rule in Nigeria (1993–1998): After the annulment of the 1993 democratic elections (which were believed to have been won by M.K.O. Abiola), General Sani Abacha seized power in a military coup in November 1993. Political repression, human rights abuses, and clampdowns on dissent characterised his regime.
• Civil society resistance came from various groups opposing the dictatorship, including the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and Concerned Professionals, who advocated for a return to democratic governance, the rule of law, and respect for civil liberties.
The Role of Concerned Professionals and Pat Utomi
• Advocacy and Protest: Concerned Professionals publicly criticised military rule, organised press conferences, and published communiqués demanding the restoration of democracy and the release of political prisoners.
• Strategic Engagement: Instead of resorting to violent opposition, the group employed intellectual and legal arguments to advocate for democratic reforms. They emphasised the adverse economic and political effects of military rule.
• Pat Utomi’s Contribution: As an influential thinker and communicator, Utomi utilised his platform to speak out against the abuses of the Abacha regime. He was instrumental in crafting messages that resonated with both elite and grassroots Nigerians, advocating for economic reform and democratic governance.
Significance:
• This movement helped galvanise public opinion against the dictatorship.
• It laid part of the groundwork for the eventual transition to civilian rule in 1999.
• It also underscored the role of civil society and the professional class in holding authoritarian regimes accountable.
Forward to 2025
Nigeria is now in its 26th year of democracy, for which individuals such as Pat Utomi fought. Only a handful of activists participated in this democracy. Notably, since Muhammadu Buhari’s entry into office in 2015, the tone of discourse has become increasingly volatile, and the government has exhibited growing impatience.
The brittle nerves of our “democratic” government have become increasingly pronounced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu was involved in the democratic struggle. Utomi was an ally at one point.
Utomi’s spacious, multi-layered living room was where he and Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President under Buhari, crafted the APC manifesto in 2014/2015. He soon fell out with the group due to differing visions of Nigeria’s reality and the actions needed beyond mere rhetoric. The distancing intensified under Buhari, who showed little concern for pristine ideals.
The Bola Tinubu Federal Government is sensitive. Eloquent discussions about the ideals of democracy rub it the wrong way. They resemble the knife-wielder in the Igbo proverb who reacts negatively when a cutlass is mentioned in conversation.
This is the setting for June 25, when the FG arraigns Prof. Utomi in court. They barely refrained from terming the charge treason.
Shadow government
On 13 May 2025, the DSS filed a suit in the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing Professor Utomi of attempting to establish an unconstitutional parallel authority that could undermine the country’s democratic institutions. The DSS asserts that Utomi’s proposed “shadow government” or “shadow cabinet” lacks constitutional recognition and authority, thereby contravening the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The DSS argues that such a structure, if left unchecked, might incite political unrest, intergroup tensions, and embolden other unlawful actors or separatist entities to replicate similar parallel arrangements, all of which pose a grave threat to national security.
The people in government are well aware of the concept of a shadow government. They do not want another CP-style movement, brimming with possibilities, also coordinated by Pat Utomi. Fear drives this lawsuit.
Courage propels Utomi. The calm and composed intellectual does not indulge in drama; instead, he confronts every challenge with a level head. He has spoken in grim terms about the extent of the Tinubu government’s response.
We should engage deeply with Utomi’s concern. He understands the opponent thoroughly. Since 1994, the landscape has experienced significant changes. At that time, there was only one opponent, represented by the military government. Civil society was formidable.
In 2025, civil society has become atomised. There are approximately 30 political parties, with half seeking the support of the ruling party. A multitude of interests exists. Ethnicity has become more pronounced. More significantly, the APC federal government aims to demonstrate that it is “in power and government” at the slightest opportunity.
This legal battle highlights the tensions between civic accountability and state authority in Nigeria. While the DSS frames Utomi’s shadow government as a constitutional threat, Utomi positions it as a democratic tool for oversight. The June 25 court hearing will test the judiciary’s interpretation of civic activism versus national security, with significant implications for Nigeria’s political future.
Nevertheless, citizens must unite against this slide towards autocracy. Speak up. Contribute, as the lawyers have done. They must not have their way with Pat Utomi, a symbol of Nigeria’s democracy.
Nwakanma is author, communication strategist, marketer, journalist, educator, mentor and platform speaker
