Dennis Erezi
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday declared that for democracy to be effective in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, it must be built on the principles of good leadership, strong institutions and rule of law.
The former president advised African nations to re-examine the democracy inherited from the West.
He said this at a Summit on the State of Democracy in Africa held at the Yar’adua Centre in Abuja on Wednesday. The summit was organised by Ford Foundation, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library and Yaradua foundation.
Obasanjo said Africa must build a model of democracy that is true to the African heritage and that caters for the welfare of the people.
The former Nigerian President, who was a keynote speaker at the summit, advocated for a democracy that works for all, while charging African leaders to show an unwavering commitment to the welfare of the people.
President Bola Tinubu represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima argued that the cure for bad democratic governance in Africa is “more democracy”.
He said Nigeria has learnt that the “worst form of democracy is far better than the best form of military rule”.
We finally had a return to democracy in 1999 after 16 years of sometimes benevolent, most often brutal military dictatorship. We have since then recorded 25 years of unbroken democratic governance,” Tinubu said.
“We have learnt through bitter experience that the worst form of democracy is far better than the best form of military autocracy.
“Specifically, in Nigeria, we have learnt that the cure for bad democratic governance is more democracy
The president called for the strengthening of regional economic communities to drive integration and trade ties among African nations in order to deepen democracy and accelerate development across the continent.
He also sought for revitalization of sub-regional blocs like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) as vehicles to usher in an era of robust intra-African commerce, economic growth and job creation.
Regional Director, Ford Foundation West Africa, Dr. Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye noted that election is not working in Nigeria.
She said only a credible and transparent elections will ensure that women are adequately represented in political office.
She said:” One of the speakers talked about, quotas for women. And I just wanted to respond to that.
“I think it’s important for us to fight for quotas and different things with the government, but we have to recognize the reason that we are needing quotas.
“These struggles is because elections themselves are not working.”
