Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has cautioned that democracy is dying in Africa, stressing that its decline stems from an alignment with African values and realities.
Obasanjo’s concern was echoed somewhat by the former secretary general of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who warned that military incursion in governance especially in sub Saharan Africa puts democracy in danger.
However, the Catholic bishop of Sokoto diocese, Matthew Kukah and former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Bello Tambuwal noted that while democracy might not be where it should be, it remains work in progress.
They all spoke at the 60th birthday colloquium of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, in Abuja.
In his remark as chairman of the occasion, former president, Obasanjo said, “If you are talking about democracy failing in Africa, democracy in Africa has failed. And why has it failed? Because in context and in content, it is not Africa. It does not have any aspect of our culture, our way of life, what we stand for, what we believe.
“Are we talking of democracy or are we talking of western liberal democracy. When we talk of democracy, we should remember that in Africa, before the colonial rule and the colonial power, we had a form of government, which attended to the needs of our people. And whatever you call it, to me, it is democracy. Because what is democracy about? The American president Abraham Lincoln defined it as government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
The former president noted that democracy was meant to be a system of government that delivers and delivers to all the people and not just a few as it is practised today.
While he noted that Africa had its own governance systems before colonial rule, he said the current system enables leaders to “grab everything illegally and corruptly” while telling the people to “go to court,” even when justice is unattainable.
He said, “It’s not that democracy is failing, democracy is dying and if we are going to make democracy not to die, we have to look at democracy in the context and in the context of Africa.
I hope that we will get to that stage so that democracy which will deliver will be the democracy that we will have in Africa.”
On his part, former secretary general of the Commonwealth of Nations, Anyaoku, said the recent military coups in some African countries are worrisome, adding that they are a stark reminder of the 1960s when military rule was the order of the day.
He recounted how, as the secretary general of the Commonwealth, he pushed for the return of multi party democracy in some African countries like Kenya, South Africa.
He however called for the review of the 1999 construction to reflect better management of diversity and true federalism in Nigeria.
Speaking also, the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic diocese, Matthew Kukah, said democracy is work in progress and that it also offers an opportunity to correct mistakes.
He noted that democracy can be quarrelsome in nature but that what matters is how the quarrels are managed matters.
He stressed that ”democracy is for the good of the people, as it has helped to destroy the feudal system of government”.
Former Sokoto State governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal said democracy is not failing in Africa as it is an ongoing process
According to Tambuwal, ”when we Play by the rules, democracy works.. Democracy is work in Progress ”
Tambuwal, a serving Senator, also said the Senate resolution of the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State did not follow the procedure because the required two third majority of the senate was not followed.
”Under President Olusegun Obasanjo, state of emergency were declared on some states and the National Assembly did the necessary affirmation of the processes with the required two third majority with members voting to affirm the process.”, he said.
Former vice president, Atiku Abubukar and several others paid glowing tributes to the celebrant, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.
Other dignitaries at the event were former national chairman of the PDP, Chief Uche Secondus, former state governors like Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Bello Masari, John Fayemi Kayode, former Senate Presidents like David Mark, Ken Nnamani, Adolphus Wabara, Former speakers of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, current deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu among others.
