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In an interview with Sunday Sun, Utomi explained that he turned down the offer to preserve his political independence and avoid compromising his voice within the government system.
Utomi, known for his consistent critical stance on governance in Nigeria, and recently the founder of a “shadow government” aimed at scrutinizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration, recounted how President Yar’Adua personally spent two hours trying to persuade him to join his cabinet. Despite the late president’s persistent efforts, Utomi insisted that staying outside government would allow him to be a more effective advocate for good governance.
“I have been asked to be a minister before, and I turned it down. The last person who made that offer was President Yar’Adua, and he went the extra mile—talking to me for two hours to convince me,” Utomi said. He noted that although his background in political science gave him an understanding of the importance of public service, he was cautious of the “corporatist state” characteristic of post-colonial African politics—where opposition voices are often absorbed into government only to be muted or weakened.
Utomi recalled that Yar’Adua respected his views and believed he could be more influential from within the government. The meeting, held at the presidential villa on a Friday, ended with Utomi proposing an alternative: “I told him, ‘I’m a patriot. You can wake me up anytime—even at 2 a.m.—and ask for my honest views.’ I suggested he find seven capable individuals to bring into his administration instead.”
The late president agreed with the proposal and asked Utomi to help identify these seven candidates. Utomi returned to Lagos, compiled a list, and handed the names to Steve Oronsaye, a senior government official at the time. However, no further follow-up occurred.
Tragically, President Yar’Adua fell ill soon after and passed away in May 2010. Utomi later learned from a senior source that the president might never have received the list and may have believed Utomi had rejected him during his final days—a misunderstanding Utomi firmly denies. “I didn’t snub him,” he asserted. “I was told by a very senior person that the president probably never got the envelope, and he thought I had rebuffed him while he was dying, which is not true.”
