When Professor Pat Utomi turned 70, it was more than a birthday celebration — it was a national moment of reflection. A celebration of resilience. Of intellect. Of patriotism. Of a lifetime devoted to the Nigerian dream.
The atmosphere at the event was rich
with gratitude and deep introspection. Tributes poured in from statesmen,
technocrats, political associates, and admirers whose lives and careers have
been shaped by the iconic economist and political thinker.
Each speaker was given only a few
minutes. Yet in those brief moments, decades of influence were compressed into
powerful, emotional testimonies.
Among the most striking tributes were
those delivered by leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a party that
holds Professor Utomi in unmistakably high esteem.
The National Chairman of the SDP,
Professor Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, spoke not just as a party leader, but as a
man who has watched Utomi’s journey for nearly half a century.
“For nearly 50 years that I have known
Professor Pat Utomi,” he said, “his focus has remained unchanged — the
realization of a prosperous Nigeria.”
According to him, Professor Utomi has
consistently stood for the true values and aspirations of the Nigerian people.
He described him as “a top mind” and “a man of noble dignity,” whose enduring
dream has always been about a country where the blessings of labour are
accessible to every citizen.
While admitting that Nigeria may not
yet have attained its desired heights, Professor Gombe maintained that the
country remains great — sustained by the steadfast commitment of patriots like
Utomi.
As the celebrant steps into what he
called the “septuagenarian milestone,” the SDP Chairman offered prayers for
renewed strength and divine guidance, emphasizing that Nigeria still needs
Utomi’s experience, clarity, and wisdom.
The SDP family, he stressed, is proud
to be associated with him. Professor Utomi once served as the protem Chairman
of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), which later evolved into the SDP.
He was also the party’s first presidential candidate in 2011. Within the party
structure, his intellectual depth continues to serve as a guiding force.
If Professor Gombe spoke with
reverence, SDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, spoke
with passion and candour.
Addressing Mrs. Pat Utomi, the Utomi
family, and Nigerians at large, Adebayo congratulated the nation for being
blessed with a man like Professor Utomi — and for God’s preservation of his
life.
“A country may ignore all the minerals
in its soil,” he declared, “but a country can never afford to ignore talent.”
Recounting his first encounter with
Utomi in the early 1990s under the platform of concerned professionals, Adebayo
described him as courageous, intellectually daring, and consistently ahead of
his time. He recalled the risks Utomi and his contemporaries took in
challenging the political establishment — bold moves that shook the nation’s
foundations.
Though they have shared moments of
political agreement and disagreement, Adebayo noted that one thing remains
unquestionable: Professor Utomi possesses what he described as “an eagle-eye
view of Nigeria.”
Even in lighter moments, he said,
Utomi appears to have the “gift of prophecy.”
“When we are busy deceiving
ourselves,” Adebayo remarked, “Professor Utomi will tell you where the votes
will go and what will happen afterward.”
Beyond the celebration, however, came
a moment of sober reflection. Adebayo observed that when one measures Utomi’s
intellect, patriotism, and selflessness against Nigeria’s current condition,
there appears to be a painful mismatch. He likened him to great minds such as
Eskor Toyo, Bala Usman, and Aminu Kano — leaders celebrated by the people, yet
rarely entrusted with power.
“We have specialized,” he lamented,
“in clapping for our best minds, eulogizing them, but ensuring they never get
access to power.”
He recalled how Nigerians once
celebrated “Pat Utomi at 40.” Three decades later, they now celebrate “Pat
Utomi at 70.” The pressing question, he suggested, is what the nation has done
with the ideas he has long championed.
Many of the reform concepts Nigerians
discuss today, he noted, were already fully formed in Utomi’s mind during his
days as an adviser in President Shehu Shagari’s civilian administration.
For Adebayo, the true honour to
Professor Pat Utomi lies not in applause, but in action.
“While Pat Utomi is still alive,” he
urged, “let us make Nigeria greater than Singapore. Let us conduct credible
elections. Let us build an accountable government.”
He challenged Nigerians to commit to
living and governing in ways that would never make Professor Utomi ashamed —
insisting that the greatest tribute to such a patriot is to implement the ideas
he has tirelessly advocated.
MORE THAN A BIRTHDAY
At 70, Professor Pat Utomi stands not
merely as a celebrant, but as a symbol — of consistency, courage, and
conviction.
For the SDP, he is more than a party
elder. He is a moral compass. An intellectual reservoir. A reminder of what
principled politics should look like.
That is why the party does not joke
with him.
Because in celebrating Pat Utomi, they
are celebrating a vision of Nigeria — a vision still waiting to be fully
realized, yet undeniably within reach.
-Jamiu Abubakar
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