Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for a rethink of the democratic model practised across Africa, arguing that Western liberal democracy does not adequately reflect the continent’s history, culture and values.
Obasanjo made the remarks on Tuesday at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, where he criticised the winner-takes-all nature of politics in Nigeria and other African countries.
According to the former president, the Western liberal democratic system inherited by African countries was developed in a different historical and cultural context and has failed to address the realities of the continent.
He likened the adoption of the system to wearing a dress that was not made to fit, saying it could be either too small or too large and ultimately fail to serve its intended purpose.
Obasanjo also questioned the meaning of political opposition in many African societies, noting that the concept of opposition is often associated with hostility rather than constructive political competition.
He said the system encourages election winners to disregard those who lose, particularly under the first-past-the-post electoral model where winning by a single vote can give a candidate control over the entire political system.
The former president further warned against poor management of Nigeria’s diversity, stressing that the country’s different ethnic, cultural and regional identities must be deliberately protected and nurtured.
“Nigeria is what it is because of our diversity,” Obasanjo said, arguing that removing diversity would fundamentally alter the character of the country.
He also expressed concern about the growing influence of money and inducements in politics, saying the trend had increased significantly.
Obasanjo acknowledged that widespread poverty and illiteracy posed challenges to democratic development but also criticised the limited participation of women in Nigerian politics.
He noted that Nigeria had not elected a female governor since the beginning of the Fourth Republic more than two decades ago, while questioning the character and values of some of the political leaders being elected.
The former president said African countries should not simply copy political parties, judicial structures and other institutions from Western democracies.
Instead, he advocated a democratic system rooted in African history, culture and values.
Obasanjo said democracy should be viewed as a continuous process rather than a destination, adding that African countries should be willing to reassess the model they inherited.
He suggested that such a system could be described as “African democracy”, provided it reflects African context and content.
The dialogue was chaired by Obasanjo and attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Namadi Sambo. Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed hosted the event, which also attracted constitutional experts and civil society representatives from across Africa.
