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Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president of Nigeria, and Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, have criticised the state of democracy in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, stating that the continent’s democratic systems are being undermined by corruption and the illegal seizure of power....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>
Speaking at a this Monday at the 60th birthday colloquium of Emeka Ihedioha, former governor of Imo State, Obasanjo appeared to take a swipe at President Bola Tinubu, condemning leaders who grab power by illegitimate means and then challenge opponents to seek justice in courts that lack fairness.
“It is I am, because I can grab. What sort of democracy allows you to take everything illegally, corruptly, and then say, ‘Go to court’? Even in the court, you cannot get justice. If this is what democracy has become, then democracy is not just failing; it is dying,” he said.
Obasanjo questioned whether Africa was truly practising democracy or merely following a Western liberal model that does not reflect the continent’s traditions and values. He argued that before colonial rule, African societies had governance systems that met the needs of their people, and any form of democracy should be evaluated based on its ability to serve the people fairly and inclusively.
“Democracy is meant to be a system of government that delivers to all the people, not just a select few. But what do we have today? A government by a small number of people, for a small number of people, while the majority are deprived of their needs,” he lamented.
He asserted that the failure of democracy in Africa stems from its lack of alignment with African values, culture, and way of life. Calling for a re-evaluation of governance on the continent, Obasanjo stressed the need for an African-centred democratic system that truly benefits the people rather than a privileged elite.
“”If we are going to make democracy not die, we have to look at democracy in the context and content of Africa,” Obasanjo said, expressing hope that the continent would eventually embrace a system of governance that truly serves its people”, he added.
Kukah concerned about Nigeria’s democracy
Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, echoed similar concerns, arguing that despite Africa’s adoption of democracy, some leaders behave as though they have been divinely empowered to control the fate of their people.
“Even though we are in a democracy, there are certain people who behave as if God has given them the permission. They will decide who will breathe and who will not breathe. Unfortunately, there are certain things that God has given us for free, which those of you who have power cannot control”, he said.
He further emphasised that while African nations inherited democratic systems they did not create, it is insufficient to claim that democracy is inherently incompatible with African culture simply because it originated in the West.
According to Kukah, “For democracy to take root, feudal institutions must be dismantled before democratic structures can be properly established…CONTINUE READING>>
