Professor Pat Utomi, a prominent political economist and former presidential candidate, has announced his intention to pursue legal action against Bayo Onanuga over allegations of protest sponsorship.
This development, as reported by Punch Newspaper, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political discourse in Nigeria.
Utomi’s decision comes in response to Onanuga’s claims that he was sponsoring a planned protest scheduled for August 1. Despite requests for a retraction, Onanuga has not withdrawn his statement, prompting Utomi to proceed with legal measures.
In his statement, Utomi declared, “Why not? It is my right. I live in the United States and I will sue him in the United States and Nigeria. I will sue the (Bola) Tinubu government because he is their agent.” This dual-jurisdiction approach underscores the seriousness with which Utomi views these allegations.
Utomi framed the issue within a broader context of governance in Africa, drawing on his academic expertise. He stated, “As I said in my release, I am a student of the state in post-colonial Africa. We have seen the decline of the state in Africa, but I have not seen it come down this low that his agents are actually on the prowl, inventing falsehoods.” This perspective suggests Utomi sees the allegations as part of a wider pattern of political misconduct….Seē _ Morē