Laolu Akande, a political analyst and former presidential spokesperson, has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to put more urgent national matters ahead of Pat Utomi.
In response to the security agency’s legal action against Utomi, Akande made this statement in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday.
Recall that Utomi was sued by the DSS on charges of trying to establish a shadow government in order to unlawfully steal President Bola Tinubu’s presidential authority.
Akande, however, downplayed concerns about the shadow government, characterizing it as a non-threatening manifestation of political ideology rather than a danger to national security.
“The DSS employees shouldn’t trouble themselves too much, in my opinion. The DSS has more pressing matters to attend to. Let’s do that, please. He added, “Just give Utomi some space; he’s just enjoying himself.”
According to Akande, the idea was intended to promote political participation and provide intellectual options rather than to overthrow the government.
Read Also: EFCC Cautions Nigerian Youths Against Desperate Pursuit of Fraudulent Wealth
It is impossible for me to judge whether it is illegal. I’ll let the attorneys make that decision. However, he pointed out, “I believe it’s an expression of an idea.”
Akande criticized the opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party, for failing to properly engage the ruling party in policy debates, pointing to what he called a “serious vacuum” in Nigerian politics.
We cannot take away Professor Pat Utomi’s recognition that there is a significant void, even when it comes to challenging the current administration’s beliefs. He claimed that the opposition, including the PDP and the LP, had totally lost that footing.
He went on to explain that Utomi’s strategy is to fill a leadership void with helpful suggestions rather than seize control of the government.
