The Elite Problem: Professor Utomi and the Ogun State Contract Controversy
In a recent turn of events, Professor Pat Utomi’s involvement in a contract controversy with a Chinese company and the Ogun State government has raised eyebrows. What has come to light is his previous business relationship with the state, which has sparked a necessary conversation about the elite problem in our country.
Imagine for a moment if a prominent politician from the APC or PDP had secured a deal to build on the designated car park of a shopping mall like OPIC Plaza on Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja. The outcry would have been deafening. Public intellectuals and activists, including Professor Utomi, would have been quick to condemn the move as an abuse of power and a violation of town planning laws and regulations.
However, it seems that when it comes to their own interests, some members of the elite class are willing to bend the rules and seek privileges wherever they can. This is a classic case of “do as I say, not as I do.” Professor Utomi, a vocal public intellectual, has been accused of seeking to build a business facility on a public car park, raising questions about his own commitment to propriety and fairness.
This controversy highlights the elite problem in our country, where those who are supposed to be champions of the people are often more interested in advancing their own interests. It’s time for us to hold our leaders and public intellectuals to the same standards they demand of others. Anything less is a betrayal of the public trust.
Timothy Odedina writes from Odeda local government
