Lagos — Last week's formal entry of Pat Utomi into the presidential race, is raising a number of questions in the polity, writes Philip Ogunmade

A new trail is being blazed in the Nigerian political landscape, with technocrats setting the pace. Unlike in the past when it was the exclusive preserve of professional politicians to control the entire political terrain, well experienced professionals, with huge capacity from the private sector, are now developing interest in politics. For these professionals, it is high time Nigeria was rescued from the grip of perceived 'political villains', who see ruling as their own fundamental right.

It is against this background that erudite scholar, innovative lecturer and wealthy banker, Prof. Pat Utomi made a grand entry into the competitive presidential race of the country, last week. Utomi, who was the Director of the Pan-African University, popularly known as Lagos Business School (LBS), took a bow from the institution last week to position himself for the race. He has before now, created a niche for himself as an innovative Nigerian, with a well of ideas, productive programmes and footprints in banking, marketing and academics, all of which have influenced both the young and the old very positively.

His popular television programme, Patito's Gang, through which important national issues are regularly being explored, has further endeared him to Nigerians. The programme has turned out a fountain through which a number of Nigerians have been re-orientated for positive living.

Utomi, through his drive for the re-creation of a new Nigerian, has traversed both the North and the South, educating men and women, especially the youths with a view to inculcating in them a new approach to meaningful living. This has accounted for why he is the favourite of hundreds of thousands of youths all over Nigeria.

Utomi's adventure into the hostile political terrain of Nigeria, has been hailed not only by youths, but also by many other enlightened minds as well as pressure groups which see the participation of productive and revolutionary minds like him in politics, as the only bedrock for radical transformation of the perceived deteriorating state of Nigeria into a land of promise.

It against this background that different groups across Nigeria have formed a coalition to project the idea of Utomi for President, come 2007 with all vigours and strength. Among these groups, are the youths under the auspices of Youth Alliance for Change in Nigeria (YACIN) led by Taiwo Akerele, Ibrahim Yeku, Benedict Okhumale, Mamukuyomi Idris and Oyebanji Oyesola. The youngsters who have taken up the responsibility of championing Utomi's presidential campaign, recalled his giant strides over the years, insisting that a government headed by Utomi, will no doubt alter the prevalent stagnation and hopelessness pervading the rank and file of Nigeria.

Said the youths : "For the past two and half decades now, Prof. Utomi through the instrumentality of several media fora and media interviews bared his mind on his thoughts concerning how to revitalize and move the Nigerian economy forward. It is on record that the problem of non-performing institutions in Nigeria have remained the major focus of Utomi's pontification, the very delicate issue of privatization, the twin issues of integrity and credibility of governance and the idea of reforms through consensus is also associated with him.

"Through the late 80's and throughout the turbulent 1990's in Ngeria, Utomi arguably dominated public opinion and arguably became the conscience of the nation in areas such as policy ideas, policy actions, policy implementation and all that. In those days, when it was a taboo to talk of privatization to create jobs, Utomi remained consistent in selling the idea because of his passionate beliefs in the workability of the idea and how it has salvaged several nations and helped in repositioning their economies for international competitiveness .

"In unmistakable terms, Utomi's approach to development, is idea to action, this is clearly an approach very far away from the average Nigerian politician, idea of political patronage and rental system of politics, industrialization through the development of industrial parks as conceived by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory, is an idea that Utomi has pushed through all these years," the youths said, explaining how they have put machinery in place to co-opt artisans, market women and the like into the Utomi project.

Utomi while explaining the raison detre he opted to undertake such an adventure of that magnitude in a society like Nigeria, where reason hardly prevails and where the so-called political class, constituted by professional politicians does not shift grounds, said it has become compelling to save Nigeria from the menace of these persons, who see politics as their personal property.

Utomi, whose ambition is being projected by his progressive oufit, The Restoration Group, said it was high time that dignity and accountability were restored to the politics of Nigeria. He lamented that Nigerians have been so regimented by greedy politicians to such an extent that their wishes are inconsequential in the running of the affairs of their country. Affirming that the people of Nigeria have been so relegated to the background, a reason he argued has reduced the masses of Nigeria to "a second nation", Utomi buttressed his point with the mindless pursuit of the failed third term ambition. According to him, despite the rejection of the agenda by over 80 per cent of the people, advocates of the move, jettisoned the cry of the people, pricing their own promordial interest above the interest of the generality of Nigerians.

"Our motive is to restore accountability politics," Utomi began, "which we profess with the war against corruption and make the country work for both that political class and the second nation, dispirited citizenry totally cynical about politicians. In many ways, this challenge leaves us squarely at a defining moment in Nigerian history. The people emboldened by the triumph of the third term battle where a view held by a more than 80 per cent of population was going to be ignored and a contrary position rammed past feel the urge to reclaim their country from professional office seekers and contractors. We believe it is a historical duty of the professional class, the heart of the all important middle class of the society, to rise to the occasion.

"For us, what is running for office is the issue, not who. What is running from the Restoration Group is an idea passionately backed by a fair sized group of knowledgeable and truly committed patriotic Nigerians with the will to hold each other accountable for the progress of their ideas to the Nigerian people," Utomi said.

However, Utomi's courage to join the political trail at such a time like this when the entire structures seem to be decaying, with things falling apart, while the centre can hardly hold, has been a subject of mixed feelings. While a number of people who desire a total redemption of the system from this stalemate, it has run into, have hailed Utomi's decision, others view it with deep reservation. This is no thanks to the perceived "secret cult" that power control has been turned into in Nigeria.

This has made many to raise a number of rhetorical questions, to which they have found no answer. For instance, some of the questions agitating the minds of many, include, where will Utomi find the huge sum of millions of naira required from a presidential candidate to contest at the 2007 polls? And should he have this sum, will he indeed, undertake the risk to put down this sum in such a risky investment and slippery terrain like the Nigerian politics? This is moreso that people believe that the political class will rather frustrate anyone outside its clique, no matter how bright his chance may be.

Another question agitating the mind of many is what political platform will Utomi employ to achieve his objective? This is against the backdrop of the thoughts that the big parties, will rather give Utomi a wide berth or deliberately sidetrack him while making their choices for the presidency. And should Utomi find a political platform indeed, how will he match up with the enormous powers weighed by the ruling class, believed to be desperate to violate law and order in a bid to achieve its own goals and objectives? It is on these bases, that people believe that Utomi's pusuit is a very herculian task or perhaps, a tall order.

The perceived dilemma of the moment, has again justified the words of an ex-student union activist, now a monarch, Chief Segun Okeowo, who led the famous Ali Must Go Riot of 1978. Okeowo said : "Nigerian democracy is exclusive, almost cultic." Will Utomi therefore, turn out to be the first progressive mind to break the invincibility of the cultists in power in Nigeria? If yes, then how? These are the questions that Utomi can perhaps best present answers to.

That Utomi has the good support of a sizeable number of Nigerians, whose mandate may give him the ruling ticket is of no doubt. In fact, THISDAY survey has revealed that Utomi is a man to beat at all times, but for all the cogs of wheel on the road. For instance, certain Nigerians whose opinion THISDAY has sought, have hailed his move, saying if elected, "he would be the first educated Nigerian to rule this country."

In all, considering all these obstacles on the road to the presidency, will Utomi, forge ahead still and throw his hat into the ring? This is bearing in mind that Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Mr. Femi Falana who undertook such steps in 2003 seem to have both beaten a reverse today.