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...Read the full article.

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Dear prof, you have style but am really worried about your safety. Am not really sure why you prefer the phrase "shadow government". I foresee an ugly situation where this gang in Nigeria calling themselves goverment will misconstrue your noble patrotic idea and trump up charges of treason, God Forbid bad thing. This illegitimate government cannot be trusted for anything as you already know.............. their boss OBJ is still on the prowl and he is not very different from Abacha.

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=Zanderlex;209177502>Dear prof, you have style but am really worried about your safety. Am not really sure why you prefer the phrase "shadow government". I foresee an ugly situation where this gang in Nigeria calling themselves goverment will misconstrue your noble patrotic idea and trump up charges of treason, God Forbid bad thing. This illegitimate government cannot be trusted for anything as you already know.............. their boss OBJ is still on the prowl and he is not very different from Abacha.

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Hi, Mr.Zanderlex!

Your cynicism is absolutely laughable as it is ludicrously escapist. Why did you not advise Prof. Pat Utomi NOT to contest the presidential elections, knowing very well that the PDP Mafia could misconstrue his noble intentions and evaporate him from the surface of this God-forsaken planet? {God forbid bad t'ing, ojare.}

We go see, sha. Make I come go. Obrigado.

Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III)

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An ambitious project indeed! Hope the poor Professor doesn't get misunderstood. A shadow government is a very strong pressure on government proper to perform and shadow Ministers will always reveal facts and figures to uncover inefficiencies. But the hope is that it will function in Nigeria and that the shadow ministers will be courageous enough to exert the necessary pressure and that the exposed parties do not resort to wrong reactions. A good project worthy of support.

Good job Uche for a well conducted interview!

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=Zanderlex;209177502>Dear prof, you have style but am really worried about your safety. Am not really sure why you prefer the phrase "shadow government". I foresee an ugly situation where this gang in Nigeria calling themselves goverment will misconstrue your noble patrotic idea and trump up charges of treason, God Forbid bad thing. This illegitimate government cannot be trusted for anything as you already know.............. their boss OBJ is still on the prowl and he is not very different from Abacha.

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U no lie. This is a recipe for trouble in naija.

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=Zanderlex;209177502>Dear prof, you have style but am really worried about your safety. Am not really sure why you prefer the phrase "shadow government". I foresee an ugly situation where this gang in Nigeria calling themselves goverment will misconstrue your noble patrotic idea and trump up charges of treason, God Forbid bad thing. This illegitimate government cannot be trusted for anything as you already know.............. their boss OBJ is still on the prowl and he is not very different from Abacha.

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Something similar is done back here in Canada by advocacy groups, normally think-thanks.They come up with alternative policies that show other ways of spending national revenue. From time to time , the groups come with policy documents sometimes tagged as "Alternative Budget," or " Shadow Budget. "

Interestingly, these groups are invited by the legislature for their input when passing the government's annual budget. There is so much funfair when they release their annual budgets. It is published in the papers, and debated by experts. And it is normally done ahead of the "Speech from the Throne." This is done to put pressure on government, and enlighten citizens on the most pressing social and economic issues.Some have gone to act as consultants for government on policy matters. Some are perceived as right wing and left wing. They have an ideological direction in their policies.

Like Professor Utomi said, the PDP government lacks an ideological direction. Its government has no vision about where it needs to take Nigeria. Providing an ideas arena where the government can tap into ideas from knowledgeable people is in the best interest of the country on the long run.

But the fear is the funding. It is known that who pays the piper dictates its tune. Most times the policy direction of some of the think-thanks we have in Canada is dictated by the those who fund them.

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But the fear is the funding. It is known that who pays the piper dictates its tune. Most times the policy direction of some of the think-thanks we have in Canada is dictated by the those who fund them.

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That may well be because those who are ready to fund such a project are those in agreement (in principle) about what the true direction of policy should be.

In the Nigerian landscape, the fear for Utomi's safety (and that of the rest of his team) is a very present and resonable one.

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Professor Utomi is the only Presidential aspirant during the last election that made an effort to communicate and connect with the electorate, at the intellectual level. He seemed policy-driven. I respect that.

Unfortunately, as presently constituted, he is not electable in Nigeria. He has no base. No money. No political experience. Weak organizational structure. His ideas are comprehensive by less than 5 percent of the population.

It is important that we understand that the Nigerian brand of democracy has its own coloring and flavor. That point is lost on the professor.

Pat Utomi would serve a greater good if he seeks an electoral office in Nigeria other than the presidency. At least for now. He has got to prove himself. The areas of greatest impact in Nigeria politics is not necessarily the most visible. I place Utomi on the same intellectual pedestal and political relevance as Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Charles Soludo et al. (age is on their side too). However, intellectual prowess do not necessarily mean political savvy. These individuals (not including Utomi) have a record in political and public governance. They are proving themselves. In 10 years, NOI may be the next Sirleaf Johnson. Love her or hate her, you cannot but respect her. (I hope she resigns from the World Bank within the next 4 years).

What is wrong with Utomi serving in the government of Yar-Adua? (Please do not rehash that legitimacy rubbish). Why does he presume he is doing a favor to Yar-Adua by having coffee with him every other week? If the struggle is his life, what is he not willing to do?

Shadow government is the wrong prescription for the wrong ailment, to the wrong patient. I sense the professor is lonely and seeking a means to perpetuate his relevance. What i hear him say is: "The surgery went well...but the patient died".

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=udokaamah;209177571>

It is important that we understand that the Nigerian brand of democracy has its own coloring and flavor. That point is lost on the professor.

Pat Utomi would serve a greater good if he seeks an electoral office in Nigeria other than the presidency. At least for now. He has got to prove himself.

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I hope that he does not have to prove himself the way Chimaroke Nnamani, Ibori, Alamesiegha, Dariye, Akala, and Patricia Etteh have all proven themselves.
What perplexes me about this good and well-meaning man is that he expends so much energy trying to fight a lost cause. Nigeria is in the clutches of brigands and knaves and his lone ranging will always end up futile. I suggest that he concentrates more on his business than flogging a dead horse. Even the ordinary citizens are not willing to fight.
Just watching the show of shame in the House of Reps makes my stomach churn. To think that any decent citizen will fight for Etteh is mind blowing. And Fasheun has added a colouring to the charade. And Utomi still pontificates about fixing that God-forsaken country. I tire! But make I dey watch.

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=blondie;209177579>I hope that he does not have to prove himself the way Chimaroke Nnamani, Ibori, Alamesiegha, Dariye, Akala, and Patricia Etteh have all proven themselves.
What perplexes me about this good and well-meaning man is that he expends so much energy trying to fight a lost cause. Nigeria is in the clutches of brigands and knaves and his lone ranging will always end up futile. I suggest that he concentrates more on his business than flogging a dead horse. Even the ordinary citizens are not willing to fight.
Just watching the show of shame in the House of Reps makes my stomach churn. To think that any decent citizen will fight for Etteh is mind blowing. And Fasheun has added a colouring to the charade. And Utomi still pontificates about fixing that God-forsaken country. I tire! But make I dey watch.

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Hi, Blondie!

I hope you know that Prof. Pat Utomi's Platinum Habib Bank (Bank PHB) is an amalgam of Habib Bank (owned by Moshood Abiola and General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, the president's late elder brother) and Pat's Platinum Bank!

I do not think he simply NAIVELY pontificates for the sake of pontificating. Many people get hypnotized by the tittle "Prof" and automatically transfer their naivete on Pat. That, I call "Operaton Mindfukc"!

Muchas gracias. Barka da Sallah!

Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III)