Obasanjo Criticizes Africa’s Democracy: “Courts No Longer Guarantee Justice”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed alarm about the health of democracy in Africa, claiming that because of its disconnection from the ideals and realities of the continent, democracy is not only failing but is dying.
At the 60th birthday celebration of former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha in Abuja, Obasanjo bemoaned the fact that African leaders now “grab everything illegally and corruptly” and advise the populace to “go to court,” even though he is aware that justice is still elusive.
In addition to calling for a system based on African traditions rather than a faulty adaptation of Western liberal democracy, the former president emphasized that true democracy should benefit everyone, not just a select few.

“If you are discussing the failure of African democracy, then the continent’s democracy has failed. Why has it not succeeded? Considering that it is not Africa in both context and content. He declared, “It has nothing to do with our culture, our way of life, our values, or our beliefs.”

He questioned the African definition of democracy further, pointing out that African civilizations had their own systems of government that worked well for their citizens prior to colonial control.

According to Obasanjo, “Are we discussing democracy or Western liberal democracy? We should keep in mind that, prior to colonial authority and power, Africa had a system of governance that catered to the demands of its citizens when we discuss democracy. Whatever you want to call it, I think it’s democracy. For what exactly is democracy? Government of, by, and for the people is how American President Abraham Lincoln described it.

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A democracy is supposed to be a form of governance that serves the needs of all citizens, not just a select few or a subsection of the population. But today, what do we have? The Greek democracy, which brought people together and gave them a voice in decisions that affected everyone, has, in my opinion, been replaced by representative democracy, which has not done enough to accommodate everyone.

Obasanjo bemoaned how the existing democratic system denies the common people access to justice while enabling politicians to get rich through corruption.

“Today, we have democracy, which is the rule of a small number of people over a big number of people who fail to have access to the necessities of life. Democracy will not last like that.

“I am, because I am able to acquire.” What kind of democracy does it bring for you to seize everything; then, corruptly and criminally, you say, “Go to court.” when you are aware that justice is unattainable, even in the legal system.

“Democracy is dying, not failing, and if we want to keep it alive, we must examine democracy in the context and within the boundaries of Africa.” The democracy that will deliver is the one that we will have in Africa, and I hope that we will reach that point,” he said.