By Suleiman Ibrahim.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has delivered a scathing critique of the state of democracy in Africa, asserting that the phrase “go to court” has become a mockery of justice and democratic principles in Nigeria and across the continent.
Speaking at an event in Abuja, Obasanjo argued that the adoption of Western-style democracy has failed to serve African citizens effectively, as the system is fundamentally alien to African values and governance structures.
“Democracy in Africa has failed because it is not African,” he declared. He criticized the tendency of politicians to dismiss grievances by telling people to “go to court,” even when they know the judicial system is incapable of delivering true justice.
Obasanjo expressed deep concern that democracy, in its current form, has devolved into mere representation rather than genuine governance for the people. He contrasted this with traditional African systems of governance, which he claimed were more attuned to the needs of the populace.
“Abraham Lincoln described democracy as government of the people, by the people, and for the people. But what do we have today? The Greek democracy affected everyone. Now, democracy has become representative democracy, and it has not taken care of everyone,” he stated.
The former president further lamented the lack of justice in the democratic process, particularly in electoral disputes. He criticized the common refrain of “go to court” when citizens seek redress, despite the widespread lack of confidence in the judiciary.
“You will say, ‘go to court’ when you know that you can’t get justice. Democracy is dying in Africa, and to save it, it should be made in the context of Africa,” he added.
Obasanjo called for a redefinition of democracy that aligns with Africa’s cultural realities and historical governance systems.
“We should remember that in Africa, we had a form of government which attended to the needs of the people. That is democracy,” he concluded.
