Podcast #6: "Yes I'm available to run" - Dr Patrick Utomi.

May

2006

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Dr Pat Utomi talks to NVS radio on why he may run for the presidency, his plan to revive The Restoration Group and Concerned Professionals. He also shares his thoughts on 3rd term, the Oil Curse, assessment of Obasanjo's performance, bank reforms, debt repayment and more. You dont want to miss a second of this very engaging encounter. On the panel are Baba Adam, Bolaji Aluko, Clement Ikpatt, and Lilian Agbeyegbe. Our host is Sola Adewunmi.

" See how all of us siddon here, no Babes" - a sitting Governor
" We have Alchemy of Ignorance and Arrogance"
"what creates value is capacity of the mind, not from natural resources"

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About Dr Patrick Utomi

Pat Utomi is Professor of Entrepreneurship, and Director of The Centre For Applied Economics at the Lagos Business School. He has served in Senior positions in government, as an Adviser to the President of Nigeria; the Private Sector, as Chief Operating Officer for Volkswagen of Nigeria, and in academia. He is the author of several Management and Public Policy books including the Award Winning Managing Uncertainty: Competition and Strategy in Emerging Economies.

His academic background covers a range from Policy Economics, Business Administration, and Political Science to Mass Communication. As an entrepreneur he has founded or co-founded companies that are active in fields including financial services, ICT, and media.

His articles are catalogued in the following link
http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/content/category/4/96/55/

Village Square Radio will explore the personalities, principles and passions that influence Nigeria and her citizens and their effect on the nation in the larger world context, while advancing the tenor of dialog

The Podcasts are intended to educate, enlighten and entertain the discerning intellect. The Podcasts will feature in a lively, interactive format.

Your Comments

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Robot

# 1 | 11.05.2006 02:45

	...Read the full article.

Lazarus Lazarus is online

# 2 | 11.05.2006 11:02

	Really nice interview. This is one candidate I will campaign for anyday. But is he REALLY ready? Na Naija we dey talk o

InDiaspora InDiaspora is offline

# 3 | 12.05.2006 03:25

	"An alchemy of IGNORANCE and ARROGANCE". The summation of our problems. "See as we siddon here, no babes". That gives you an idea how a lot of these guys think and what they do. I have it on good account that some of these governors along with a flamboyant Nigerian publisher regularly employ the services of undergrad pimps that "charter" campus girls for them in Kombi buses for orgies. Shameless men. This is absolutely fantastic! Utomi's running for president!! Now we're talking. One question still remains unanswered. What can Nigerians in diaspora do to effect significant change at home? We need to have a common front I think. Any ideas?

Godwin Godwin is offline

# 4 | 12.05.2006 06:03

	I like Prof Utomi's declaration and I wish him best of luck but my criticism is, why should somebody who has not vied for any political office think the presidency is what he will give the first shot? If he vies for a "lower" office his chances of winning will be significantly higher in my opinion and e.g he may vie for the office of Local Government Chairman and if he can make a significant success from that he will be better prepared to replicate that success at a higher level. If only one Local Governmet is well managed with proper road facilities and waste disposal as well as other amenities that are under Local government control. I bet you many more local governments will rise to the challenge.

EezeeBee EezeeBee is offline

# 5 | 12.05.2006 09:44

	Godwin, while your point about vying for 'lower' offices first is a good one, we have to consider that since 'fish rots from the head', an ailing 'fish' may be revived by an infusion of good sense at the head as well. I would personally support an Utomi Presidential candidacy for the simple reason that till date, he is one of the few Nigerians who actually SEEMS to 'give a damn' about other ORDINARY Nigerians and their circumstances, even when it doesn't appear to benefit him directly. Also, he speaks about the promotion of concepts and ideas and ACCOUNTABILITY, something sadly and sorely lacking in the Nigerian sphere today. We'll see!

igwe

# 6 | 12.05.2006 12:40

	"what creates value is capacity of the mind, not from natural resources" Good news, I'd say! These words should be in Gold! Didn't Bill Clinton advise Nigerians to free themselves from dependence on natural resources such as oil? You can have all the natural resources in the world but if the mind is sick you'll remain poor! Ask Africans, especially Nigerians! But you can also have no natural resources but if the the mind is healthy, you'll be very wealthy. Ask the Swiss!

emj

# 7 | 12.05.2006 18:21

	You cannot be wealthy with a rotten mind. you can have all the natural and human resources in the world, it will amount to nothing, if not properly harnessed. It gladdens my heart that Pat has finally made up his mind to join the race. He has my blessings.

Introspector Introspector is online

# 8 | 12.05.2006 18:46

	Godwin has a good point, besides how much will Utomi be able to achieve with the current legislooters we have? The sweeping problem with our vocal elite is that everyone wants to be in charge. I would love to see people like Soyinka or Oshiomole run a state and make an example of it that would make others question their own Governors. It is pathetic that our elite despite all their complaints and money cannot even wrest political control of their abode in Lagos and Abuja. The amount of organization to seize the local governments in Ikoyi, and Lekki are easily within the means of the super-rich elite. If they truly have the ability let them show us the way and insist on independent candidature.

Anthony Anthony is online

# 9 | 12.05.2006 21:22

	Our savior cometh! Introspector (sorry if I get the name wrong) got it quite right when he (or she?) stated among other things that: " I would love to see people like Soyinka or Oshiomole run a state and make an example of it that would make others question their own Governors." The fact of the matter, my dear Introspector, is that Soyinka, Oshiomole, Fawehinmi, Utomi and the rest of the noise-makers have no tangible track records to write home about as far as public admin is concerned. Besides, many of these guys are closet dictators who cannot stand the chore of campagning for people's votes. The few who tried, like Fawehinmi, had problems in convincing people to vote them. That's why thewy will rather have some revolution to usher them to power on a platter of gold. It will really be interesting to see Utomi go on a campaign tour and see what will come of it. Here is some one who, like a child, has not learned to crawl yet, he wants to run. One would have expected him to start from the grass-roots such as the local govt level, pay his dues in form of good governance and then begin to aim higher. No! Because of his silly ego, he wants to go straight for the presidency....like he is some messiah.

InDiaspora InDiaspora is offline

# 10 | 13.05.2006 02:38

	@ Anthony and Introspector You both remind me of that part of our Nigerianness - always pointing out the negative and holding on to why this or that WON'T work, while sitting on the fence doing nothing at all - that I detest with a passion! Incurably cynical!! Do you mean that in all of the over 1 hour interview, all you could take with you was his availability to run for presidency? What is wrong with us for goodness sake. Or is it because we are black?:confused1 Anthony what stops you yourself from running for councillorship in your LGA? Or Introspector why don't you run for House of Reps or governorship? YOU WON'T RUN AND YET YOU HAVE THE TEMERITY TO CRITICISE THOSE WHO DO. :mad: And yet you continue with your persistent moaning about the state of our country. Why do we do this to ourselves? I don't do not know what part of our constitution stipulates running for lower offices first as preprequisite for aiming for the top job? The brightest and best among us should run for office, especially in Nigeria today. They deserve our support they can get. If you have nothing constructive to say, then hold your peace.

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