Because of its disconnection from the principles and realities of the continent, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concerns about the state of democracy in Africa, claiming that it is not only failing but dying.
Speaking in Abuja at the 60th birthday colloquium of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha, Obasanjo bemoaned the fact that African leaders now “grab everything illegally and corruptly” and advise the populace to “go to court,” even though he is aware that justice is still elusive.
In contrast to a faulty adaptation of Western liberal democracy, the former president advocated for a system based on African traditions, emphasizing that true democracy should benefit everyone, not just a select few.
“If you’re talking about African democracy failing, then the continent’s democracy has failed. What has caused it to fail? For in both content and context, it is not Africa. Our culture, our way of life, our values, and our beliefs are all completely absent from it,” he said.
By pointing out that African nations had their own efficient governance systems before to colonial domination, he further questioned the definition of democracy being used in Africa.
Are we discussing democracy or Western liberal democracy, Obasanjo asked? When we talk about democracy, we should keep in mind that Africa had a system of governance that catered to the demands of its citizens prior to colonial authority and power. And democracy, in my opinion, is whatever you call it. Because what is democracy? President Abraham Lincoln of the United States described it as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Read Also: BREAKING: Abuja Residents Flee as Soldiers Allegedly Threaten Violence Over Land Dispute
“Democracy is supposed to be a form of governance that serves everyone, not just a tiny percentage of the population. What do we have, though, today? I think democracy has evolved into representative democracy, and representative democracy has not taken care of everyone, going back to the Greek democracy that brought everyone to the square and gave everyone a voice in decisions that touched everyone.
Obasanjo bemoaned the fact that although the general populace lacks access to justice, the existing democratic system permits politicians to enrich themselves through corruption.
We live in a time of democracy, which is the rule of a small number of people over a very big number of people who are denied the necessities of life. Democracy won’t survive like that.
Due to my ability to grasp, I am. What kind of democracy does it bring you to seize everything, then say, “Go to court,” while acting corruptly and illegally? when you are aware that justice is impossible to obtain, even in court.
Democracy is dying, not failing. If we want to prevent this from happening, we must examine democracy within the African context and its contents. “I hope we reach that point so that the democracy that will deliver will be the one that we have in Africa,” he said.
