Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president of Nigeria, has stated that democracy in Africa has failed because it does not align with the continent’s values, culture, and way of life.

The former president said this Monday at the 60th birthday colloquium of Emeka Ihedioha, former governor of Imo State. He questioned whether Africa was practising true democracy or merely adopting Western liberal democracy.

Obasanjo argued that before colonial rule, Africa had governance systems that served the people effectively, which, in his view, qualified as democracy. He referenced Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy as “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” stating that the system should work for all citizens, not just a privileged few.

According to Obasanjo, democracy has evolved into a system where a small group of people govern over a large majority who are deprived of their rights and necessities. He criticised this model, describing it as a system that enables corruption and injustice, where those in power accumulate wealth illegally and leave the masses without recourse.

“Democracy has now become representative democracy. Today we have democracy, which is 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.

“And why has it failed? Because it didn’t have any, in content and in content is not Africa. It does not have any aspect of our culture, our way of life, what we stand for, what we believe. What sort of democracy brings you and you grab everything illegally, corruptly, and you say go to court? Even in the court, you cannot get justice”, he stated.

He warned that democracy in Africa is not just failing but is at risk of dying entirely unless it is redefined to reflect African values and serve the needs of its people. He called for an approach that integrates Africa’s cultural and historical context to create a system of governance that truly delivers for all.

“We have to look at democracy in the context and in the content of Africa. 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”, Obasanjo said. (BusinessDay)