Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern over the state of democracy in Nigeria and across Africa, arguing that the system currently practised on the continent was inherited from colonial powers and has failed to adequately reflect African realities.
Obasanjo made the remarks while speaking as a panellist at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue 2026 in Bauchi State.
The former president argued that what is commonly described as democracy in Africa is largely Western liberal democracy introduced during the colonial era.
According to him, Africans should critically examine whether the system has delivered the political and social outcomes expected of it.
“There is no democracy in Africa, but borrowed and forced liberal democracy that has caged Africans,” Obasanjo said.
He questioned whether the continent could genuinely claim to have developed its own democratic model rather than continuing with institutions inherited from former colonial powers.
“Is there African democracy? Let us not deceive ourselves. There’s nothing like African democracy. We were given Western liberal democracy by our colonial masters.”
Obasanjo said he had become increasingly concerned about the performance of democratic systems, particularly in Africa.
He noted that concerns about the future of democracy were not limited to him, pointing to previous discussions organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation around challenges facing democratic governance.
“For quite some time, I have been increasingly worried about the performance of democracy in Africa, and indeed, in other regions of the world,” he said.
The former president, however, stressed that discussions about the perceived decline of democracy should distinguish between different models of governance operating around the world.
He said criticism surrounding the state of democracy largely concerns the Western liberal democratic model rather than every political system described as democratic.
“Let me emphasise that we are referring to Western liberal democracy because the Chinese will not agree with you that their own democracy is dying.”
Obasanjo also cited Switzerland’s system of direct democracy as another example of why different democratic models should be considered separately.
“And maybe the Swiss, who have practised some form of direct democracy, may also not agree with you that their democracy is dying.”
According to him, Western liberal democracy remains dominant across Europe, the Americas, significant parts of Southeast Asia, Australia and Africa.
His remarks add to ongoing debates over the effectiveness of democratic institutions on the African continent and whether governance systems inherited from colonial administrations adequately address contemporary African political realities.
Obasanjo has repeatedly participated in discussions on governance, leadership and democratic development since leaving office in 2007.
His latest comments call for a broader examination of the model of democracy practised across Africa and its performance in meeting the needs of the continent’s people.
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