•Utomi and Kila
Political economist and Director of the Commonwealth Institute for Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS) in Lagos, Prof. Anthony Kila has expressed his support for the shadow cabinet unveiled by Prof. Pat Utomi.
The leader of the Big Tent Coalition and Economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, earlier this month unveiled a shadow government established to serve as a credible opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The initiative, described by Prof. Pat Utomi as a ‘national emergency response’, was launched to address what Utomi characterised as worsening economic and security conditions under President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Reacting to the development, Prof. Kila, a respected public affairs commentator and professor of strategy and development, declared that not only did he not see anything wrong in the idea, but he fully supports it.
Prof. Kila expressed his views while addressing the Cambridge African Round Table (CARt), an international platform for analysts, corporate and public leaders, diplomats, and scholars dedicated to organising and hosting conversations, facilitating research, and connecting individuals to aid in understanding policies and providing solutions to African and global affairs. He said, “to those asking what I think about the recent launching of the shadow cabinet in Nigeria, let me be clear, I not only see nothing wrong in the idea, I fully support it.”
The Don noted that those who think the idea is odd because the Nigerian system is a presidential system with no scope for a shadow government, as seen in parliamentary systems, should consider this an original idea that can help, not hurt.
He added that “the shadow government has come to be because the opposition is sleepy, and in disarray and needs to be boosted with fresh external air.”
Kila also cautioned the Shadow Cabinet to avoid becoming a talk show and to work diligently to establish themselves as a rigorous, reliable, and valuable source of alternative and viable policies that can benefit both the government and the people of Nigeria.
