Political economist and former presidential candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, has reflected on his long and complicated relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, describing it as one marked by both disagreement and mutual respect.
Speaking during an interview on The Legacy Series on Thursday, 16 July, 2026, Utomi recounted how his interactions with Obasanjo dated back to the period when the former president served as Nigeria’s military Head of State. According to him, their relationship has evolved over the years into what he described as one of “frenemies.”
“President Obasanjo and I have had this long relationship of being frenemies. He was head of state at a time and I gave him so much wahala.”
Utomi explained that he had never hesitated to challenge Obasanjo whenever he believed it was necessary. He suggested that his criticisms were driven by his commitment to national development rather than personal differences, adding that disagreements are a normal part of public service and democratic engagement.
The professor noted that despite their differences over the years, he and Obasanjo maintained a relationship built on mutual respect. He said political leaders and citizens should be able to disagree on policies without turning such disagreements into personal conflicts.
According to Utomi, healthy criticism is necessary for good governance because it encourages accountability and better decision-making. He stressed that democratic societies thrive when leaders are open to opposing views and constructive engagement from citizens……See More
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