Former Prez Responsible For Situation Of Democracy In Nigeria: President’s Special Advisor

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is responsible for the current condition of democracy in Nigeria, says President Bola Tinubu's special advisor.

The comment came after Obasanjo criticized the liberal democracy concept followed by the country while advocating "Afro democracy."

Bayo Onanuga, the president's special advisor on information and strategy, said the country is currently following the practices brought in by Obasanjo when he first led the country as military head from 1976 to 1979 and as civilian president from 1999 to 2007.

"Obasanjo ought to know that he brought this thing into Nigeria. He was the one who made us adopt it in 1979. He must have seen it as expensive and unsuitable when he governed us for eight years and even wanted an extension for another four years," Onanuga said, Punch reported. "So, the way he is sounding, it is like the man is getting wiser after leaving office."

Obasanjo, at an event organized by the Africa Progress Group in Abeokuta, Ogun, on Monday, said African countries should practice "Afro democracy," as liberal democracy allows the federal government to run a massive population by just a few people.

He noted that liberal democracy keeps maximum people away from the government and that only "few people are representatives of only some of the people and not full representatives of all the people."

"Invariably, the majority of the people were wittingly or unwittingly kept out. This is why we should have 'Afro democracy' in place of Western liberal democracy," he said. "The weakness and failure of liberal democracy as it is practiced stem from its history, content, context and its practice."

"Once you move from all the people to representatives of the people, you start to encounter troubles and problems. For those who define it as the rule of the majority, should the minority be ignored, neglected and excluded?" he asked.

Obasanjo said the majority of people now have no hands to define and design the government but still continue with it, despite knowing that it is not working for them.

"You are invited here to examine clinically the practice of liberal democracy, identify its shortcomings for our society and bring forth ideas and recommendations that can serve our purpose better," he added.

Afro-democracy and liberal democracy have similar principles. However, their focus on specific historical and contemporary issues differs. Afro-democracy focuses more on systemic racism, historical injustices and socio-economic disparities. Liberal democracy, on the other hand, focuses on freedom, individual rights and minority rights.