On Monday, March 24, former President Olusegun Obasanjo declared that democracy in Africa is not just failing—it is dying. Speaking at the 60th birthday colloquium of former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, Obasanjo argued that to save democracy in Africa, it must be redefined in a way that reflects the continent’s values and realities.
Obasanjo explained that African democracy is disconnected from the continent’s culture, way of life, and beliefs. He expressed deep concern over how the African governance system has evolved, saying it now sees leaders who “grab everything illegally and corruptly,” only to tell the people to “go to court” when they protest.
He said: “If you are talking about democracy failing in Africa, democracy in Africa has failed. And why has it failed? Because in context and in 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.”
The former president went on to describe the current state of African democracy: “Today, we have democracy, which is government 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. That is not democracy that will endure.”
Obasanjo emphasized the depth of the problem: “It is, I am because I can grab. What sort of democracy brings you and you grab everything and then illegally, corruptly, and you say go to court. When you know that even in the court, you cannot get justice.”
He concluded by asserting that democracy in Africa is not just failing—it is dying. “If we are going to make democracy not to die, 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.”
