Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed deep
concern over the trajectory of governance across the continent, arguing that
imported political models have hindered true self-determination.
Speaking as a panelist at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation
Democracy Dialogue 2026 in Bauchi State, the former Nigerian leader criticized
the wholesale adoption of foreign systems, stating:
“There is no
democracy in Africa, but borrowed and forced liberal democracy that has caged
Africans.”
Addressing the core premise of political structures on the
continent, Obasanjo challenged the notion of a tailored governance model and
questioned current trajectories:
“Is there
African democracy? Let us not deceive ourselves. There’s nothing like African
democracy. We were given Western liberal democracy by our colonial masters.
“For quite
some time, I have been increasingly worried about the performance of democracy
in Africa, and indeed, in other regions of the world.” he further stated
He noted that concerns regarding these governance frameworks
were widely shared, referencing previous discussions hosted by the organization
on the systemic challenges facing liberal traditions. Clarifying the scope of
his critique, he highlighted how alternative systems view their own stability
differently compared to traditional Western frameworks:
“Let me
emphasise that we are referring to Western liberal democracy because the
Chinese will not agree with you that their own democracy is dying. And maybe
the Swiss, who have practised some form of direct democracy, may also not agree
with you that their democracy is dying.” he added
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