While in the United States, Utomi reflected on the role of politicians in shaping Nigeria’s economy. He pointed out that the nation’s political leaders have been ineffective in managing the economy and warned that relying on them for solutions is not feasible. He emphasized that the focus should be on transitioning Nigeria’s economy from one of consumption to production. Utomi sees the lack of strategic planning and the emphasis on short-term gains as major impediments to the country’s economic growth. He believes that the political class has largely failed to recognize the need for a sustainable economic model.
In response to comments from President Bola Tinubu’s supporters, who claim that the president should not be blamed for the current economic challenges given his short time in office, Utomi provided a broader perspective. He explained that the roots of Nigeria’s economic problems run deeper and are not solely tied to recent events. Nonetheless, he expressed that leadership at all levels must take responsibility for the current situation, as inaction or poor strategic decisions over the years have contributed to the economic hardship Nigerians face today.
Utomi also discussed his personal interactions with President Tinubu. He recounted how he had approached Tinubu in 2019, urging him to take a stand against the direction the country was heading under President Buhari’s administration. At the time, Utomi believed that the nation was on a dangerous path and needed leaders to act decisively to steer it in the right direction. However, he found Tinubu to be more focused on strategic political interests rather than the well-being of Nigerians. This difference in priorities marked a significant divergence in their political relationship.
The former presidential aspirant underscored that political strategies often take precedence over genuine concern for the populace, a factor he sees as a major obstacle to progress. According to Utomi, Nigeria’s current economic challenges are not simply a result of recent policies but are compounded by a long history of political decisions that prioritized individual or party gains over the nation’s needs. He emphasized that a shift in focus from political strategy to national welfare is essential for the country’s recovery.
He said: I’m not into who caused or did not cause. I can say publicly that part of my departure from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was that I went to him in 2019 and told him that President Buhari was leading us to a dangerous place and that we should speak up, we should act as his so-called party members, but he was more strategic than concerned about Nigerians.CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶️▶️
