Utomi, Wakili, Others Set Up Shadow Government As ‘Alternative’ To FG

In a move that will be seen as a confrontation with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, foremost professor of Economics, Pat Utomi, alongside some notable Nigerians on Wednesday announced the constitution of various committees towards announcing a shadow government.

Announcing this in a press statement signed by Mr Tanko Yunusa, who is the Head, Public Affairs Bureau, the group which called itself NCFront, an action group of the Third Force, said their action was to save Nigeria from imminent collapse.

Describing themselves as leaders of conscience under the umbrella of the Third Force Movement initiated by National Consultative Front (NCFront), the group said it is again compelled to intervene in Nigeria’s growing misrule and national confusion by setting up a formidable national shadow government to provide alternative interventions and solutions to problems of national governance in the various sectors of Nigeria’s political and economic endeavours.

The group called on all well-meaning Nigerians across party lines and in the civil society to embrace and support what it called the “historic shadow cabinet initiated by the National Consultative Front, NCFront.”

Announcing their intention, the group pointed out that, “as earlier announced by our movement that a shadow cabinet will be inaugurated sequel to our Steering Committee meeting held on the 29th of November 2021, which was saddled with the approval of the tentative list of the shadow cabinet, we hereby wish to announce the tasks and members of the shadow cabine.”

It gave as terms of Reference to the members of the committee: “to address and intervene in all National issues as it affects each of the portfolios designated and raise alternative perspective on positions presented by government with facts and figures.”

It also tasked the Committee members to, “Set up tasks teams to intervene in relevant sectors of of the Nigerian polity and economy.”

While promising to keep updating the list of members of the Committee, it listed security Committee, Agriculture and Rural Development, health, Commerce and Industry among others.

It announced that the inauguration ceremony will be done by Utomi, who it announced as “the President of the Cabinet,” and “doubles as Lead Speaker on Economic development.”

The group said the event comes up “in a fortnight at the NCFront New National Secretariat in Abuja.”