Former Spokesperson Lashes Out at DSS for Harassing Pat Utomi over Shadow Government Plans
Governmental Shadows: Cease Harassment of Pat Utomi, Priority Lies Elsewhere - Akande to DSS (paraphrased)
In an unabashed interview on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily, Laolu Akande, a seasoned political analyst and former presidential spokesperson, has called out the Department of State Services (DSS) forNeedles antics, urging them to focus their attention on more pressing issues plaguing our nation, rather than hassling Pat Utomi over his shadow government proposal.
Akande's statements come in the wake of the legal action taken by the DSS against Utomi, who they accuse of attempting to illegally usurp President Bola Tinubu's executive powers by creating a shadow government.
Dismissing concerns surrounding the proposed shadow government, Akande describes it as a harmless exercise of political thought, rather than a threat to national security.
"I reckon the DSS peeps should save their energy for bigger fish. There are more pressing matters for the DSS to address. Please, just lay off Utomi—he's just messing around," Akande bluntly declared.
He goes on to argue that the shadow government concept is not a plot to undermine the government, but rather an effort to spur political engagement and offer alternate ideologies.
"I'm not a lawyer, but I'd wager that it's an expression of an idea, rather than a breach of any law," Akande added.
Criticizing the opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), for their inability to comprehensively engage with the ruling party on policy debates, Akande emphasizes Utomi's role as a voice challenging the void in Nigeria's political arena:
"The one thing we can't deny about Professor Pat Utomi is his understanding of the serious void in our political landscape—even in terms of contesting ideas with the current administration. The opposition—whether it's PDP or LP—has lost any semblance of credibility in this regard," he stated.
Akande furthers clarifies that Utomi's goal isn't to usurp the government, but rather to fill a leadership gap with constructive input:
"He's not out to topple any government—it's just about contributing ideas, concrete ideas, and alternatives. It appears Utomi understands that we need to contest ideas—even with a ruling party that's struggling to maintain legitimacy," Akande explained.
Although acknowledging the nobility behind the shadow government initiative, Akande expresses doubts about its long-term viability:
"I wouldn't wager on the feasibility of this happening. I think Utomi is simply pointing out, 'Look, this space is empty—we can't leave it vacant,'" he added.
ution:
- DSS has accused Pat Utomi of setting up a shadow government aimed at usurping President Bola Tinubu's executive powers
- Laolu Akande, a former presidential spokesperson, has called on the DSS to leave Utomi alone and focus on more pressing issues
- Akande believes that the shadow government proposal is a harmless expression of political thought
Enrichment Data:
- Legal action taken by the DSS against Pat Utomi for allegedly attempting to set up a shadow government in Nigeria is ongoing at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
- Pat Utomi's proposed shadow government lacks legal legitimacy, poses a threat to national security, and undermines the constitutional order, according to the DSS.
- Supporters of Pat Utomi are rallying legal support to defend him against the DSS suit, with plans to use a team of about 500 lawyers.
- The shadow government initiative, launched by Utomi as a "Big Tent Coalition," aims to serve as a credible opposition to the current administration.
- The legal proceedings are ongoing and await a court decision on the matter.
In light of the ongoing legal action against Pat Utomi by the DSS, Laolu Akande, a former presidential spokesperson, has urged the DSS to focus their attention on more pressing issues in Nigeria rather than harassing Utomi over his proposed shadow government. Akande asserted that the shadow government concept is not a threat to national security, but an expression of political thought.
Akande criticized the opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), for their inability to engage with the ruling party on policy debates. He emphasized Utomi's role as a voice challenging the void in Nigeria's political landscape.
Although Utomi's proposed shadow government lacks legal legitimacy, poses a threat to national security, and undermines the constitutional order, according to the DSS, Akande doubts the long-term feasibility of the initiative. He believes Utomi is simply pointing out the empty space in the political landscape and advocating for constructive input.
Due to the ongoing legal proceedings against Utomi at the Federal High Court in Abuja, supporters of Utomi are rallying legal support, with plans to use a team of about 500 lawyers to defend him against the DSS suit.
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