Political economist Prof. Pat Utomi has criticised Nigerians who defend the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of placing political, ethnic and religious loyalties above the welfare and future of the country.
Utomi made the remarks in a Facebook post on Saturday, October 17, 2026, where he questioned why citizens experiencing hardship would continue to support a government they believe is responsible for their difficulties.
The former presidential aspirant described the situation as a national tragedy, arguing that political loyalty should not prevent Nigerians from holding their leaders accountable.
“How long will Nigerians continue to defend the very people making their lives miserable simply because they share the same tribe, religion or political affiliation?” he asked.
Utomi also challenged the argument that Nigeria might need another 200 years to achieve meaningful development, citing Singapore’s transformation under its former Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, as an example of what purposeful leadership could accomplish.
He said Singapore’s experience demonstrated that a country could lay the foundations for economic prosperity within a relatively short period through effective leadership and sound policies.
The professor further recalled Lee’s visit to Nigeria in the 1960s, claiming that the Singaporean leader recognised the country’s potential to become a global power but identified corruption and tribalism as major obstacles to its progress.
Utomi argued that Nigeria’s development challenges would persist if citizens continued to defend politicians based on shared identities rather than assessing their performance in office.
Explaining his motivation for speaking out, the 70-year-old said his concern was primarily about the future of younger generations rather than personal ambition.
He warned that Nigerian children and grandchildren might eventually question why the present generation failed to challenge political leaders whose actions, in his assessment, undermined the country’s progress.
According to him, citizens must reject political divisions and the distribution of material benefits that discourage them from demanding accountability from elected officials.
Utomi also maintained that no political party, ethnic group or religious affiliation should take precedence over the national interest.
“If your loyalty to a political party, tribe or religion is stronger than your love for Nigeria, then you are part of the problem,” he said.
He added that no politician was worth sacrificing the future of millions of Nigerian children for, insisting that elected officials should be judged by their commitment to good governance and the welfare of the people.
Utomi concluded by reaffirming his opposition to defending any administration that, in his view, makes life difficult for the citizens it was elected to serve.
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