Political economist and former presidential candidate, Prof Pat Utomi, has warned that Nigeria is facing a deepening national crisis that is pushing the country dangerously close to collapse.
Utomi called for urgent, far-reaching electoral and institutional reforms to avert disaster.
The professor issued the warning on Monday during a press briefing on electoral reforms and the state of the nation, describing Nigeria’s political system as unsound and incapable of guaranteeing justice, stability, or democratic progress.
“Our nation is in deep crisis. The state of our nation is unsound and pushing dangerously to the brink,” Utomi said, adding that citizens must now “arise and draw a line in the sand” before national collapse becomes irreversible.
He described the situation as a moment of existential choice for Nigerians, saying, “Before us is collapse versus progress; life and death. We must choose life that we may live.”
Utomi outlined seven urgent demands, which he said represent the “people’s charter of demands,” warning that failure to implement them could lead to uncontrollable social upheaval.
Top among the demands is the establishment of a multistakeholder commission to review the conduct of the 2023 general elections, which he said were deeply flawed and lacked consequence management.
“The urgent need for a multistakeholder commission to review the 2023 elections cannot be overstated,” he said, insisting that wrongdoing during the polls must be punished to restore credibility to the democratic process.
He also called for the creation of a consequence management committee to hold accountable all institutions and individuals found culpable in the conduct of the elections, arguing that progress in human society depends on strong institutional boundaries and accountability.
Utomi further demanded oversight reviews of the National Assembly’s role in electoral reforms and directed the Attorney General of the Federation to commence prosecution of legislators who, he said, have frustrated the agency function of the National Assembly as true representatives of the people.
He also called for the immediate establishment of a State Capture Commission, similar to South Africa’s Zondo Commission, to investigate the alleged hijack of state institutions by private and political interests.
Raising concerns about Nigeria’s electoral umpire, Utomi proposed the constitution of an international panel to probe the operations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that the body is significantly funded by foreign donors who also demand accountability.
“There must be a review of INEC’s operating modes, procurement processes and even the way its membership is constituted,” he said.
He also called for an urgent probe into the role of the judiciary in elections, warning that judicial corruption has severely damaged the legitimacy of the courts and the rule of law.
Utomi urged the Nigerian Bar Association to commence a process of delisting judges and lawyers who, according to him, have played roles in undermining electoral integrity and public confidence in the judiciary.
“If these demands of the people are not immediately implemented, we have to take it that the powers that be are ready for war with the Nigerian people,” he warned.
He cautioned that while no one desires Nigeria to descend into chaos like Sudan or Somalia, history shows that nations that ignore the cries of their people often pay a heavy price.
“The complicit middle are those waiting to be absorbed into the rot or waiting for their turn to do damage,” Utomi said, warning that when the rage of the people and the revenge of the poor overflow into the streets, it may be impossible to separate the innocent from the guilty.
Speaking on the broader task ahead, Utomi stressed the need to repurpose civil society, rebuild the public sphere, and restore civility to public discourse, while tackling the weaponisation of identity and the monetisation of politics, which he described as “poisons injected into our culture.”
He called on civil society groups, ethnic and religious leaders to work together to defuse tensions and rebuild trust, warning that hatred of neighbours has become the most powerful weapon in the hands of political elites.
“May God help us all as we strive to save Nigeria,” Utomi concluded.
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