Dele Momodu, a veteran journalist, has faulted renowned political economist Pat Utomi over his opposition to the idea of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi serving as running mate to a presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
“Anyone insisting that Obi cannot run behind anyone is definitely not a democrat who wishes to rescue Nigeria from one-man dictatorship,” he said.
Mr Momodu made the remarks in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday while reacting to Mr Utomi’s recent comments following Mr Obi’s official defection to the ADC.
Mr Momodu said Mr Utomi’s stance contradicts democratic principles, stressing that personal preferences should not override political negotiations and strategic alliances.
He argued that democracy allows political actors to make compromises in the interest of broader national goals, particularly when it comes to coalition-building ahead of major elections.
Although Mr Momodu did not explicitly state who Mr Obi might run with, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, also a member of the ADC, is widely believed to be positioning himself to contest the presidency on the party’s platform.
Mr Utomi had, during a television interview on Thursday, threatened to withdraw his support for Mr Obi if he accepted a vice-presidential slot within the proposed opposition coalition.
Expressing surprise at Mr Utomi’s position, Mr Momodu said the stance reflected a lack of political realism and democratic thinking.
While acknowledging his long-standing relationship with and respect for Mr Utomi, Mr Momodu noted that political success in Nigeria requires pragmatism rather than idealism.
“My candid view is that every nation must have its own organic strategies, even while borrowing ideas from elsewhere. The Nigerian topography is an abnormal configuration.
“This is why the above statement credited to my egbon, Pat, often breaks my heart. He seems not to have learnt from his own experience that ‘big grammar’ does not win elections,” he added.
Drawing parallels from recent political contests, Mr. Momodu said political parties often prioritize electability over perceived brilliance.
He also recalled that Mr Obi gained national prominence in 2019 when Mr Abubakar selected him as his running mate despite resistance from some party stakeholders.
“In 2019, one visionary gentleman, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, placed Obi on the national platform against the wishes of many governors and stakeholders,” Mr Momodu stated.
