By Our Reporter
Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantelle, Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has urged Professor Pat Utomi to nurture the hard-won democracy established 26 years ago, cautioning against inflaming political tensions over the concept of a shadow government, which he deems foreign to the system.
While recognising Utomi’s significant contributions to democratic practices since Nigeria’s first republic, Dantelle warned that introducing a shadow government could undermine these achievements. In a recent interview on Channel Television’s “One on One: Political Paradigm,” he expressed concern over the potential fallout of establishing any authority beyond the democratically elected government, emphasising that Nigeria’s governance must reflect the collective will rather than individual ambitions.
Dantelle commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for upholding democratic values despite challenges, asserting that Nigerians prefer a governance model rooted in collective decision-making. He called on citizens to resist any attempts to impose a governing body that does not represent the people’s will, noting that Nigeria continues to embrace democracy with 19 active political parties.
He cautioned that any move to regress Nigeria’s political landscape could jeopardise the hard-earned progress of the past two decades. Dantelle encouraged President Tinubu to remain steadfast in safeguarding democratic principles through authentic leadership, undeterred by distractions. He affirmed IPAC’s commitment to supporting the coordination of the 19 political parties for effective governance at both state and federal levels.
