I Turned Down Yar’Adua’s Ministerial Offer – Pat Utomi
Renowned economist and political activist, Professor Pat Utomi, has disclosed that he turned down a ministerial appointment offered to him by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Yar’Adua, who led Nigeria from 2007 until his death in May 2010, made the offer during a personal conversation, according to Utomi.
Speaking during an interview with Sunday Sun, Utomi said he declined the offer because he did not want his voice suppressed.
“I have been asked to be a minister before I turned it down. The last person who did that was President Yar’Adua and he went the extra mile. Two hours, he was talking to me to persuade me to join. And I said to him, it’s not because I have anything against being in office. I have degrees in political science and all that.
“I know that one of the biggest challenges we have in Africa is what is called the corporatist state in post-colonial Africa. And what does this mean? It means that in African politics, there’s a tendency to look for a strong voice of opposition and drag the voice into government. So, as to rubbish it or to weaken it.
“President Yar’Adua said to me that he respects my view, but that he believes that I will still make a greater impact from inside.
“It was on a Friday, he closed work that day and we went to the house, his residency in the villa. I now said to him, look, I’m a patriot. You can wake me up at anytime, at 2:00a.m, ask for my views and I will give it to you honestly. I told him that what he needed to do was to find seven good people and bring them in. You can count on my advice. Let those hustlers who are looking for jobs, they can contract awards. Let the seven good people man certain critical ministries.
“That all these hustlers who are looking for jobs can have contract awards. I emphasized that the seven people will make the government work.
“And Yar’Adua said, okay, why don’t you find me those seven good people, come along with them and I will back you. At that point, I was ready to back off my position. And I said to him, but I can’t give you seven names just sitting here. Let me return to Lagos. I will write down the seven names and send. I went back to Lagos wrote the seven names and I gave the envelope to Steve Oronsanye. And that was the last I heard. Yar’Adua took ill shortly after. And the rest is history.
“But I was told by somebody very senior that he probably never got that envelope because he thought I snubbed him at the time he was dying, which is not correct. I didn’t snub him.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
