Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has delivered a scathing assessment of democracy in Africa, declaring that it has failed to deliver real progress for the continent. Speaking at the 60th birthday colloquium of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, in Abuja on Monday, Obasanjo argued that democracy in its current form is alien to Africa and has not met the needs of its people.
“If you are talking about democracy failing in Africa, democracy in Africa has failed. And why has it failed? Because in context and content, it is not Africa. It does not have any aspect of our culture, our way of life, what we stand for, what we believe,” he stated.
Obasanjo lamented that while democracy is meant to serve all citizens, Africa’s version has been hijacked by political elites who manipulate the system for their own benefit. He contrasted modern governance with traditional African leadership structures, which he claimed were more inclusive and accountable before the advent of colonial rule.
“Democracy is meant to be a system of government that delivers and delivers to all the people, not just a section of the people, not just a few. But what do we have today? Since we’ve gone past the Greek democracy where everyone had a say, representative democracy has not taken care of everybody,” he said.
The former president criticized how African leaders exploit the legal system to justify corruption and impunity. “What we have today is a situation where leaders grab everything illegally and corruptly and then ask the people to ‘go to court,’” he said, implying that justice is inaccessible to the common citizen.
Obasanjo’s remarks add to a growing debate about the effectiveness of democratic governance in Africa, where electoral processes are frequently marred by fraud, political violence, and weak institutions. His comments are likely to spark renewed discussions on the need for homegrown governance models that reflect Africa’s socio-political realities.
As Africa continues to grapple with governance challenges, Obasanjo’s critique raises a fundamental question: Is the continent ready to reimagine democracy in a way that truly serves its people?