Democracy Has Failed, Obasanjo Declares
…No, It’s Work-In-Progress, Says Bishop Kukah
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Monday delivered a scathing critique of the current state of democracy in Africa, asserting that it has fundamentally failed to serve the continent’s people.
Speaking at the 60th birthday colloquium of former Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, Obasanjo argued that the prevailing Western-style liberal democracy is incompatible with African values, culture, and ways of life.
Obasanjo challenged the audience to consider whether Africans were truly practising genuine democracy or merely adopting a foreign model.
He pointed to pre-colonial African governance systems, which he argued effectively served their communities, as examples of indigenous democratic practices.
He referenced Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy as “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” emphasizing that the system should benefit all citizens, not just a privileged few.
“Democracy has now become representative democracy,” Obasanjo lamented.
“Today we have democracy, which is a government of the people, of a small number of people, by a small number of people, over a large number of people who are deprived of what they need to have in life.
“Now that is not democracy that will endure. So if you are talking of democracy failing in Africa, democracy in Africa has failed.”
He attributed this failure to a lack of authentic African content within the current democratic framework.
He criticized the system for enabling corruption and injustice, where those in power amass wealth illegally, leaving the masses without recourse.
“What sort of democracy do you have, and you grab everything illegally and corruptly, and you say go to court?
“Even in the court, you cannot get justice,” he stated.
Obasanjo warned that democracy in Africa is not only failing but is teetering on the brink of extinction unless it undergoes a profound redefinition that incorporates African values and addresses the needs of its people.
He called for an approach that integrates the continent’s rich cultural and historical context to create a governance system that truly delivers for all.
“We have to look at democracy in the context and the context of Africa,” Obasanjo urged.
“I hope that we will get to that stage so that democracy, which will deliver, will be the democracy that we will have in Africa.”
He praised Ihedioha as a determined and good-hearted individual who remained a gentleman even in the face of injustice.
Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, however, would not agree with Obasanjo’s assertion that democracy has failed in Nigeria and Africa in general, arguing that democracy is rather a work in progress.
Kukah, who’s the event’s guest speaker advocated for a form of democracy that prioritizes the welfare of all citizens, not just a select few.
He acknowledged the ongoing debate surrounding the Nigerian constitution and highlighted the problem of the weaponization of religion in the country.
“Democracy is a work in progress,” Kukah stated. “God doesn’t discriminate between Christian and Muslim prayers,” he said.
He added, “There is no discrimination. We are children of one God. If we are not treating each other rightly, one of them must be a bastard.”
Kukah also expressed empathy for judges facing immense pressure to deliver justice, particularly in light of recent controversial judicial decisions.
He emphasized the importance of justice within a democratic framework and called for a cleanup of the judicial system.
“Democracy is about everything; it’s about justice,” he asserted.
“How do we know if democracy is working in Nigeria? Do we measure democracy based on the things we wish for ourselves?
“I recommend five books. The democratisation of development leads to the development of democracy.”
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and two-term Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, addressed the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
He stressed the importance of political actors adhering to the rules of democracy for the system to function effectively.
He contrasted the current situation with past instances, such as under President Obasanjo’s administration, where the National Assembly played a crucial role in the declaration of a state of emergency.
“Democracy will work if the actors play by the rules. It’s a work in progress,” Tambuwal said.
“We need to chase out the bad operators in democracy,” Tambuwal stated.
Democracy Has Failed, Obasanjo Declares is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
