Prominent economist and political activist, Professor Pat Utomi, has inaugurated a shadow government aimed at offering credible policy alternatives and challenging what he describes as the failings of the current administration under President Bola Tinubu.
Named the “Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government,” the initiative brings together policy experts, professionals, and politicians from across Nigeria’s opposition spectrum. The shadow cabinet was formally launched during a virtual event on Monday evening.
According to Utomi, the initiative seeks to stimulate national dialogue, hold the government accountable, and provide practical policy options on issues such as the economy, security, healthcare, and good governance.
“The imperative is that if a genuine opposition does not courageously identify the performance failures of incumbents, offer options, and influence culture in a counter direction, it will be complicit in subverting the will of the people,” Utomi said at the launch.
However, the Federal Government swiftly rejected the legitimacy of the move. Speaking to The PUNCH, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the shadow cabinet as an “aberration,” noting that Nigeria operates a presidential, not parliamentary, system where such structures are typically recognized.
“Nigeria is not a parliamentary system where such a concept is practiced, and there is no provision for it in our constitution,” Idris said. “Opposition politics is important but must remain within constitutional and democratic norms.”
Despite the pushback, Utomi insisted that the move is a response to what he termed a “national emergency,” citing rising poverty, corporate flight, insecurity in Benue and Plateau states, and worsening corruption. He criticised the Tinubu administration for what he described as its reliance on propaganda and policy failures.
“Multinationals are shutting down, and millions are unemployed. Just two recent company exits illustrate how poorly thought-out policies have tanked the economy,” he stated.
The shadow government has identified key areas of focus, including stimulating production, restructuring the economy, decentralising security, constitutional reforms, and addressing ethical governance.
Among those appointed to lead portfolios in the shadow cabinet are human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi (Ombudsman and Good Governance), policy analysts Cheta Nwanze and Halima Ahmed, and civil society leaders such as Obi Ajuga, Eunice Atuejide, and Dr. Otive Igbuzor.
Utomi has pledged that the cabinet will hold weekly meetings to critique federal policies and publish detailed alternatives. He called on his team to uphold integrity, transparency, and ethics, adding that policy solutions should benefit Nigerians regardless of political credit.
“Don’t worry if they steal your ideas and use them—the gain is for Nigeria,” he said.
He also criticised the government’s handling of the fuel subsidy removal, calling it “poorly sequenced,” and warned that its centralised approach to security is enabling corruption.
“We must decentralise policing. Communities should have their own trained security forces, alongside state police and a Federal National Guard,” Utomi said.
TheNewsMatrics reports that while shadow governments, while unusual in presidential systems like Nigeria’s, are a staple in parliamentary democracies. In the United Kingdom, the main opposition forms a shadow cabinet to monitor and challenge the ruling government, with designated spokespersons for each ministry. Similarly, Canada and Australia have long-standing traditions of shadow ministers playing critical roles in national policy debates.
In Africa, South Africa’s Democratic Alliance has maintained a shadow cabinet for years to provide oversight of the African National Congress-led government. Kenya’s opposition has also periodically adopted shadow governance frameworks during key political transitions.
While Nigeria has no legal provision for such a body, analysts say Utomi’s initiative could ignite important conversations about alternative governance and democratic accountability—if it sustains public engagement and policy depth.
“So much seems rooted in politics and positioning for elections that service to the people seems to be a forgotten proposition,” Utomi concluded. “This shadow team must emphasise returning to the people and enabling their pursuit of happiness.”
