The Naivete of The Intelligentsia/Privilegentsia, By Dele Momodu

PROFESSOR PAT ITOMI is one of the brightest Nigerians I love and respect. We still spoke two days ago when he called me. He gave a speech at my 40th birthday lecture some 25 years ago. I truly admired him as a young man who managed VOLKSWAGEN Nigeria in those good old days.

I have followed his trajectory ever since. He is a man of immense passion whose theoretical knowledge of the rise of the Asian Tigers is quite fascinating, and tempting. But that’s where my romance with him ends.

I believe he has infected my very dear Brother PETER OBI with his romanticisation of the Asian countries and obvious developmental successes. My candid view is that every nation must have it’s own organic strategies while it may study and borrow ideas, and ideals, from elsewhere.

The Nigerian topography is an abnormal configuration. For example, GANI FAWEHINMI, UTOMI, OBI, FALANA, SHEHU SANI, SOWORE and others should be able to win elections and become our own BARACK OBAMA, but not here. Primordial sentiments rule the game.

This is why the above statement credited to my Egbon, PAT, and his like minds, often break my heart. He seems not to have learnt from his own personal experience, and example, that “big grammar” don’t win elections. DONALD TRUMP is back today because the Republicans needed him, warts and all, to neutralise KAMALA HARRIS. Pure and simple.

It is not about zoning or who’s more brilliant, or elegant. The key word is REALITY. APC had a far more FASCINATING, CEREBRAL, ELOQUENT and RESPECTABLE YEMI OSINBAJO when it chose BOLA AHMED TINUBU as its flagbearer in 2023.

I’m, therefore, disappointed, and flabbergasted, at the total lack of political PRACTICALITY on the part (no pun intended) of PAT UTOMI, who’s been a serial victim of Nigeria’s electoral process. Anyone insisting that OBI cannot run behind ANYONE is definitely not a Democrat who wishes to rescue Nigeria from one man dictatorship.

In 2019, one visionary gentleman, ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR, placed OBI on national platform, against the wishes of many Governors and PDP stakeholders.

OBI should be encouraged to be a humble party man…