Our reporter/ Pat Utomi, a Professor of Political Economy on Friday said he is receiving support from some Nigerians who are planning to mobilise 500 lawyers to defend him against the Department of State Services.
Utomi made the disclosure via a post on X [Formerly known as Twitter].
“It’s energising (that) some want to put together 500 lawyers to defend me against the DSS,” he said.
The DSS had sued Utomi over his alleged plan to establish what he calls “a shadow government” in the country.
According to the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the DSS prayed the court to declare the move an attack on the Constitution.
Utomi, who was the 2007 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was sued as the sole defendant.
In the suit filed on May 13 by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Akinlolu Kehinde, the agency contended that the move by Utomi was intended to create chaos and destabilise the country.
The DSS had argued that the planned shadow government was not only an aberration but also constituted a grave attack on the Constitution and a threat to the democratically elected government currently in place.
But in a post on X, Utomi said he was gladened by the solidarity he had received from across the country.
“I am heartened by messages of solidarity from across Nigeria on this shadowy business of chasing shadows of shadow cabinets. Reminds me of the Nigeria I used to know. I want to thank all.”
“I want to thank all. It’s energizing some want to put together 500 lawyers to defend me against the DSS.”
Utomi recalled chairing a conference on democracy during the late Sani Abacha era.
“It was put as a question: Is this how democracy dies in Nigeria? The answer is in the affirmative. This is how democracy died in Nigeria. Where citizens cannot organize themselves to ask questions of their agents,” he wrote.
“Under Abacha, we brought Nigerians together at St. Leo in Ikeja for a conference on the future of Nigeria.
“I chaired the planning which came out of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria on the watch of then Fr. Kukah and Ehusani. Now for shadowing democracy, hell comes.”
The economist added that he would not go into hiding.
“Where am I? Will arrive on June 12 and head to Abiola’s residence. My hands are primed for handcuffs and if the Aquino treatment from Marcos, bullet at the airport is preferred, I submit willing like a lamb led to slaughter,” he said.
“Death is no big deal. 4 of my friends are in the morgue.
“What is certain is that Tinubu will not escape that same fate. He may have been in London when I faced the assassins under Abacha, and been the supplier to Chief Enahoro and NADECO abroad of reports of my position on matters of the struggle, but we all ultimately go the way of man.
“To the Spirit of Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jnr, Nelson Mandela and the holy watch of St. Thomas Moore, I raise the meaning of being for what is left of my time on this stage.
“I remember the showman of Science, Carl Sagan, as the NASA orbiter turned its camera to earth for the final time.
“A spec of dust, home to tyrants who have threatened Rivers of Blood; and also to all those we have loved. I am emboldened to chant freedom now. If we die, we die.”
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