Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised the model of democracy practised in Africa, saying it lacks African context and has created a winner-takes-all politics.
He said the Western liberal democracy inherited from colonial rule was not designed for Africa’s realities. He compared it to wearing a dress not made to fit.
He spoke on Tuesday at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi.
Obasanjo explained that Western democracy grew from monarchy where opposition is seen as loyal to the crown. In many African languages, opposition means enemy.
“The Western liberal democracy that we inherited pulls from monarchy, hence we can have government and loyal opposition, loyal to the monarchy. But when you talk about loyal opposition in an African setting and I have gone into many of African languages, opposition means enemy, that is the word. Then do you have a loyal enemy? So, what do you do with your enemy? You crush him and destroy him and that is what we have,” he said.
“The democracy we practice has no African context, no African content and if you try to use what is not meant for you to serve your purpose, it is like a dress for which you are not measured, you try to put it on, it is either too small for you or too big for you. It will not fit and it will not serve your purpose. In practice, we have winner takes all, first past the post. If you beat me by one vote then you take it all and whatever I have does not matter,” he added.
Olusegun Obasanjo is a former military ruler from 1976 to 1979 and elected President from 1999 to 2007. He is known for commenting on governance in Africa. The event was hosted by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.
Obasanjo Speaks On Diversity, Money Politics And Women
The former President said Africa poorly manages diversity.
“Nigeria is what it is because of our diversity. Remove diversity out of Nigeria you will probably have Republic of Oduduwa, that will not be Nigeria or Republic of Danfodio, that will not be Nigeria. That diversity must be nourished and be taken care of,” he said.
He decried rising influence of money and inducement in politics, saying it has been increasing “by leaps and bounds.”
He said poverty and illiteracy hurt democracy. He also faulted gender imbalance.
“In Nigeria, you call this one fourth republic, we have not elected a female governor in more than 24 years. And yet the people we are electing, most of them lack character, the lack attributes and values that can endure and can uplift,” he said.
On way forward, he said democracy must have African history, culture and values.
“Call it what you like, just make sure it has history, culture and values that are African. You can call it democracy if you like, you can call it African democracy. In that case it will be African with African context and African content,” he said.
He said countries that exported liberal democracy are reviewing it, so Africa should also reassess.
The dialogue was chaired by Obasanjo and attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Namadi Sambo and Governor Bala Mohammed.
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