Follow Us on Google
From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. Pat Utomi, has called on Nigeria’s political leaders to put national interest above personal ambition, insisting that the country must reclaim its position as Africa’s political and economic leader if the continent is to realise its vast potential.
Speaking on Thursday at the inauguration of the NDC National Reconciliation Committee in Abuja, Utomi said Nigeria’s future—and by extension Africa’s—depends on leaders embracing reconciliation, patriotism and collective progress rather than politics driven by division and self-interest.
He described the committee’s assignment as one with implications beyond resolving internal party disputes, stressing that national reconciliation is fundamental to building a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.
“The future of our country rests on it in very many ways, more than we immediately imagine,” he said.
The committee was constituted to reconcile aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders following the party’s congresses, convention and primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Utomi lamented that despite Africa’s abundant natural and human resources, the continent continues to be perceived globally through the lens of political instability, a perception he said has discouraged investment and slowed development.
Recalling an engagement in Geneva, he said he once pointed out that a handful of individuals in California controlled more capital than the entire African continent, while a British investment banker argued that Africa lacked the infrastructure needed to attract large-scale investment.
Rather than viewing the infrastructure deficit as a setback, Utomi said it presents one of the world’s greatest investment opportunities.
“If capital is invested in developing Africa’s infrastructure, this continent, with its abundant natural resources and youthful population, will become the future of global economic growth.”
He disclosed that, working with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in his capacity as Chairman of the African Union Private Sector Pan-African Trade and Investment Committee, efforts are underway to project a new narrative about Africa—one that highlights innovation, entrepreneurship and economic opportunities rather than instability.
Utomi noted that the world often overlooks the achievements of African entrepreneurs, innovators and young people who are transforming the continent.
Invoking the African philosophy of Ubuntu, he urged politicians to embrace reconciliation and pursue the common good.
“We thrive only when the collective thrives. If we remember who we are as Africans, reconciliation becomes easy because these disagreements are small compared to the greater opportunities before us.”
He also encouraged aspirants who lost during the party’s primaries not to see themselves as excluded from the national project, insisting that leadership extends beyond elective office.
“There is nobody who entered this process that will not have a place in building a greater Nigeria. Some who did not secure nominations today may eventually become even greater champions in other capacities,” he added.
Other News
Drawing from Asia’s “Flying Geese Phenomenon,” Utomi said once one country successfully achieves sustainable development, neighbouring nations naturally benefit from the momentum, expressing confidence that Nigeria could play that catalytic role for Africa.
Earlier, National Chairman of the NDC, Cleopas Moses, said the reconciliation committee was established to restore confidence among party members and strengthen internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections.
He acknowledged that the party’s rapid growth and the conduct of congresses, convention and nationwide primaries had inevitably created grievances among some aspirants.
“Your assignment is not merely to settle disputes; it is to rebuild confidence,” he said.
“There is no way a party can pass through candidate selection without some members becoming dissatisfied. But the greater objective before us is far bigger than the ambition of any individual.”
Cleopas urged unsuccessful aspirants to remain committed to the party, describing them as valuable assets who should be fully integrated into its campaign structure.
He also criticised the country’s security and economic challenges, accusing the Federal Government of failing to adequately protect lives and livelihoods.
“Our people cannot go to farms because of insecurity. Parents send children to school only for criminals to abduct them. That is not the Nigeria we want. That is why the NDC exists—to rescue this country,” he said.
The party chairman added that the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, represented hope for Nigerians.
“We are not fighting for Peter Obi as an individual. We are fighting for Nigeria,” he stated.
Co-chairman of the reconciliation committee, Buba Galadima, described the assignment as challenging, blaming many disputes arising from party primaries on provisions of the Electoral Act, which he said make it difficult for opposition parties to conduct seamless internal elections.
Galadima recalled that disputes following the 2011 primaries of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), where he served as National Secretary, resulted in years of litigation and a N150 million court judgment against him that led to the seizure of his property.
Despite the experience, he urged aggrieved aspirants in the NDC to emulate the late Mallam Aminu Kano by accepting electoral outcomes in the broader interest of the nation.
“We have little material reward to offer anyone. What we can offer is patriotism and the opportunity to rescue Nigeria.
“We shall persuade every aggrieved aspirant to look beyond personal ambition and embrace the larger national interest,” he said.
The committee is expected to reconcile aggrieved aspirants, review complaints arising from the party’s congresses and primaries, recommend measures to strengthen internal democracy, and submit its report to the National Working Committee before the commencement of campaigns for the 2027 general elections.
