LAGOS, NIGERIA — Renowned political economist and former presidential candidate, Professor Pat Utomi, has recounted the harrowing experience of surviving a fatal accident 35 years ago near Asaba, revealing that doctors had initially declared he had no pulse or breath before he was revived.
Utomi shared the story on Thursday during a public engagement in Lagos, where he reflected on the fragility of life and the divine intervention that he believes spared him. According to him, the accident occurred in 1991 while he was travelling with his family along the busy Asaba-Onitsha road. Their vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with an oncoming truck, a crash that claimed the lives of several other passengers.
“I was in the car with my family when the accident happened. It was a head-on collision. The impact was devastating. I lost consciousness immediately,” Utomi recalled. He said he was rushed to a hospital in Asaba, where doctors examined him and concluded that he had no pulse and was not breathing. “They told my wife that I was gone. They said there was nothing they could do,” he added.
Utomi said he was pronounced dead and covered with a sheet, but his wife refused to accept the verdict. She prayed fervently and insisted that he be given another chance. According to him, a nurse eventually noticed a faint sign of life and alerted the doctors, who immediately commenced resuscitation efforts. He was later transferred to a hospital in Lagos, where he spent weeks recovering from his injuries.
“I was in a coma for days. When I woke up, I was told that I had died and come back. It was a miracle,” Utomi stated. “That experience changed my perspective on life. It taught me that life is a gift, and every day is an opportunity to make a difference.”
The political economist said the accident left him with permanent scars and a renewed sense of purpose. He dedicated his life to public service and advocacy for good governance, founding the Centre for Values in Leadership and the Lagos Business School, where he has mentored thousands of young Nigerians.
Utomi urged Nigerians to cherish every moment and to live with integrity and compassion. He also called on the government to prioritise road safety, noting that many Nigerians lose their lives in preventable accidents every year. “We need to invest in safer roads and enforce traffic regulations. Too many families are being destroyed by avoidable accidents,” he said.
The professor’s story has resonated with many Nigerians, who have taken to social media to express admiration for his resilience and gratitude for his continued contributions to national development. For Utomi, the accident was a turning point that shaped his life’s mission: to serve Nigeria and inspire others to embrace leadership with values.
