By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Political economist and former presidential candidate Pat Utomi has thrown his weight behind the emerging political partnership between Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, arguing that their records in Anambra and Kano states demonstrate experience in translating public policies into programmes that directly affect citizens.
Utomi made the declaration in a statement posted on his X handle on Friday, where he said Nigerians should look beyond political slogans and examine the records of individuals seeking to lead the country.
He specifically highlighted the administrations of Obi as Anambra State governor and Kwankwaso as Kano State governor, citing their interventions in education, healthcare, human capital development and public resource management.
According to Utomi, Obi’s administration demonstrated that a state government could deliberately prioritise education, healthcare and prudent management of public resources.
He said classroom blocks were constructed across Anambra’s 177 communities, while mission schools were returned to their churches under Obi’s administration. He also credited the administration with Anambra’s strong performance in NECO examinations between 2011 and 2013.
Contemporary reports confirm that Obi’s administration invested heavily in mission schools, including a 2013 disbursement of funds to mission primary schools for infrastructure and educational development.
Utomi also pointed to the establishment of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Awka, describing it as another major achievement of the former governor’s administration.
Contemporary reporting also documented major government funding for mission and public health institutions under Obi.
On Kwankwaso, Utomi said the former Kano governor’s record also provided evidence of substantial investment in education and youth development.
He cited the construction of thousands of classrooms, free feeding and uniforms for primary school pupils, technical and vocational institutions, laboratories and scholarship programmes as examples of programmes implemented under Kwankwaso.
Reports from the period and subsequent accounts have documented the construction of more than 2,000 classrooms, free feeding and uniforms for primary pupils, as well as technical, vocational and laboratory initiatives under Kwankwaso’s administration.
Utomi argued that the experiences of the two former governors showed that both men had experience in converting government policies into programmes with direct effects on citizens.
“Both men have experience translating public policy into programmes that affect the lives of Nigerians in positive ways,” he said.Explaining their emerging political cooperation, Utomi said Obi and Kwankwaso had chosen to work together because they found substantial common ground in their vision and mission for Nigeria.
He said the country required leadership focused on production, human capital development, fiscal responsibility, education and creating opportunities for citizens.
“If we are serious about moving Nigeria from poverty to prosperity, we should pay close attention to the possibilities created when experience, competence and a shared national vision come together,” Utomi said.
He further called for a Nigeria where government would work for the people and young Nigerians would have genuine opportunities to achieve their aspirations.
Utomi concluded by making an explicit case for the two politicians, saying: “Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso are the ones best suited to lead the way forward.”
