Why I declined Yar’Adua’s ministerial appointment – Utomi

Renowned political economist, Professor Pat Utomi has described former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as a committed patriot under whose leadership Nigeria could have experienced a turnaround had he lived.
He stated this while reflecting on an encounter with the late former president, whom he said invited him to join his cabinet after assuming office.
Utomi said he turned down the offer because he believed he could make more impact by advising government from outside.
“Yar’Adua once invited me to the Villa and urged me to join his cabinet as a minister.
“I told him that for me, the issue was not office but impact. I believed I could serve Nigeria better by offering counsel from out...