Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has sounded the alarm on the state of democracy in Africa, declaring that it’s not only failing but dying.
Speaking at an event in Abuja, Obasanjo criticized the adoption of Western-style democracy, which he believes is alien to African values and governance structures.
Obasanjo argued that democracy in Africa has devolved into mere representation rather than true governance for the people. He contrasted this with traditional African systems of governance, which he claimed were more attuned to the needs of the people. Democracy has now become representative democracy, and it hasn’t taken care of everyone, he said.
The former president also criticized the lack of justice in the democratic process, particularly regarding electoral disputes. He lamented the common refrain of “go to court” when citizens seek redress, despite the prevailing lack of confidence in the judiciary. You will say, ‘go to court’ when you know that you can’t get justice, he added.
Obasanjo called for a redefinition of democracy that aligns with Africa’s cultural realities and historical governance systems. We should remember that in Africa, we had a form of government which attended to the needs of the people. That is democracy, he said.
In essence, Obasanjo is advocating for a more inclusive and people-centered approach to democracy, one that takes into account the unique cultural and historical context of Africa.
