Prof Patrick Okedinachi Utomi, has said that he is not in a hurry to go into government saying he can only do that when he is certain of such government and his role in it.
Pat Utomi
Prof Patrick Okedinachi Utomi, has said that he is not in a hurry to go into government saying he can only do that when he is certain of such government and his role in it.
Utomi stated this in an exclusive interview with Vanguard in Lagos while reacting to the news that his name was among those pencilled down by President Muhammadu Buhari for consideration and ratification as minister.
According to the erudite Delta State born Professor,“I am reading it as you have read it in the papers.
Utomi said:
“My position is that citizenship has its obligations and duties.
"Through the years, I have been a very passionate voice for change in the country. And it is purely based on principles, patriotic sense of where the country should be heading to.
“Over the years, I have also had some invitations to serve in public lives. I have served in government long ago. One of the things that it did for me, fortunately, I was very young, I am good.
"I could pick up something quickly and store them. And one of the decisions I made from that brief excursion into public life was that I should never allow myself to be in public life if I don’t have a sense that there will be enough of a critical mass to make the kind of difference that I believe in.
"Because of that, on a number of occasions, when I have been either invited or whatever, I have been very careful and honest with those who invited me to say that I am not in a rush to go into government.
“And that I can go into government only when I have certain sense for the nature of that government and my role in it and the clarity of the goal that government would be pursuing.
"This has earned me pressure of different kinds from friends who think I am not acting normal to those who appreciate the principle that I have adopted in business of considering public life.”