Pat Utomi Warns Of ‘Creeping Fascism’ In Nigeria, Condemns Attempt To Stop Peter Obi’s Enugu Town Hall | Sahara Reporters

He accused political actors of resorting to intimidation and undermining democratic norms, particularly in the aftermath of collecting money from event organisers.

Renowned political economist and leader, Professor Pat Utomi, has strongly criticised Nigeria’s current political trajectory, warning of a dangerous resurgence of “creeping fascism” and the criminal hijacking of the political process.

Speaking in an interview with SaharaReporters, Utomi drew parallels between political suppression in Nigeria and the historical events that preceded the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany.

He accused political actors of resorting to intimidation and undermining democratic norms, particularly in the aftermath of collecting money from event organisers.

He condemned the alleged attempt to stop a town hall meeting organised in Enugu by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in support of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

“It is a bad signal for the kind of track that our democracy is travelling – the criminal hijack of politics in Nigeria,” he said. “I saw all the signs and I told them it would come to this, and this is what it has come to.”

Utomi referenced his 2019 book, ‘Why Not: Citizenship, State Capture, Creeping Fascism and the Hijack of Politics in Nigeria,’ noting that he had long forewarned the public about the steady decay of the country’s political space.

He argued that structural mistakes made during the transition back to democracy in 1999 allowed individuals into the political arena who should never have been permitted to hold office, progressively steering the system toward criminality.

Despite the bleak political environment, Utomi expressed optimism regarding the role of the electorate heading toward the 2027 general elections.

He emphasised that true opposition in Nigeria is no longer defined by political parties, but rather by the collective will of ordinary citizens mobilizing against oppressive governance.

“It’s not a matter of a group of people running around saying ‘we are this party or that party’—it is actually the people that constitute the opposition today,” Utomi asserted.

Comparing current civic frustrations to the collapse of the Soviet Union, Utomi issued a stern warning to political leaders who rely on intimidation.

He cautioned that the growing disillusionment among the populace, particularly the youth, will eventually culminate in what he termed “the revenge of the poor”.

“When they come for their revenge, it will not be palatable for those who are doing these things today,” Utomi warned.

“So let them use their tongue and count their teeth and back away from where they’re travelling. The price might be too dear, but there will be a price when the revenge of the people comes.”

Utomi concluded that as more Nigerians respond to past electoral abuses and the hijacking of their collective will, the youths are increasingly realising that breaking the cycle of bad governance requires directly confronting those who subvert democratic processes.