Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate for the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, Bishop Matthew Kuka of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal have expressed concerns that democracy in Nigeria is not operating effectively. They emphasized the urgent need for reforms to tackle the nation’s challenges.
These remarks were made yesterday during the 60th birthday celebration of former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha in Abuja.
The event also saw the attendance of notable figures such as former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the recent past governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari.
Obasanjo remarked that the current practice of democracy in Nigeria and much of Africa fails to fulfill the needs of the populace. He noted that the Western model of democracy does not resonate with African values and requirements, further adding: “Democracy in Africa has failed because it is not African.”
Obasanjo advocated for a redefinition of democracy that aligns more closely with the cultural realities of the continent, aiming to enhance its effectiveness in serving the populace.
He said: “Is democracy failing in Africa? Are we talking of democracy or Western liberal democracy? We should remember that, in Africa, we had a form of government that attended to the needs of the people. That is democracy. Abraham Lincoln described it as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
“But what do we have today? The Greek democracy affects everyone. Democracy has now become representative democracy and it hasn’t taken care of everyone.”
Obi also expressed strong criticism regarding the practice of democracy in the nation, stating that it is ineffective.
The former governor of Anambra State reflected on his own experiences during the struggle to reclaim his mandate following his impeachment, emphasizing that he did not engage in bribery.
“Democracy is not working in Nigeria. Everything has been knocked down. I didn’t pay a dime to retrieve my mandate. When I was impeached, Obasanjo called to ask about my welfare. Nigeria should imbibe the Indonesian democracy, (which is) proportional representation,” Obi said.
In his keynote address titled ‘Is Democracy Failing in Africa?’, Bishop Kukah criticized the use of religion as a tool for political manipulation in Nigeria, identifying it as a significant obstacle to the nation’s democratic progress.
He further compared the dynamic between Obasanjo and Atiku to that of a Catholic marriage, characterized by frequent disputes yet an enduring commitment.
Nonetheless, he urged for a more transparent and inclusive strategy to tackle the challenges facing the country.
The cleric said: “Democracy is working for different people as you can see in their outlook. There is the belief that citizens are free to rebel. There has been debate about whether the Nigerian Constitution is perfect or not. No Constitution will be better than the Bible and Qur’an; yet, we still live in sin. The weaponisation of religion is a big problem.
“Democracy is a work in progress. Democracy and its principles are endless contests. There are certain things God has given us, which they cannot control. We as Africans inherited a system that is not ours, but we cannot say it is not relevant to us. There are differences between democracy in Asia and that of Africa. What do we make of the tenets of democracy in Africa?”
He felt sympathy for judges who were coerced into compromising their integrity.
The cleric added: “I feel sorry for judges. At the last election, people call, even small me, to complain, ‘Talk to this, talk to that, pressure on judges to deliver justice.’ I agree that there’s an urgent need to clean up the mess.
“Democracy is about everything; it is about justice. How do we know if democracy is working in Nigeria? Do we measure democracy based on the things we wish ourselves?”
Tambuwal also agreed that democracy in Nigeria is “still a work in progress,” emphasizing that its success relies on the dedication of political leaders to adhere to established regulations.
Regarding the emergency rule imposed in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives reflected on the collaboration witnessed in the National Assembly during a state of emergency under Obasanjo’s administration, asserting that democracy can thrive when political figures behave responsibly.
“Under Obasanjo, a state of emergency was declared. The National Assembly worked together to ensure that a two-third majority passed the emergency. Each member had to vote. In this same National Assembly, we have the same Constitution. What happened in the last one? We need to chase out the bad operators in democracy,” he stated.
Atiku stated that Ihedioha, who served as Tambuwal’s deputy during his tenure as speaker, continued to demonstrate loyalty to him, despite their alignment with different political parties.
“Emeka and I have kept this relationship. Till today, I have found him extremely loyal, dedicated and focused. Though sometimes we found ourselves on different political divides, we kept our relationship and I think that testifies to the kind of person Emeka is,” he said.
