Obasanjo Criticizes Africa’s Embrace Of Western Liberal Democracy

Obasanjo Criticizes Africa’s Embrace Of Western Liberal Democracy....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has voiced his belief that African nations erred in adopting the Western liberal democracy introduced by Europeans. Speaking during a meeting with members of the House of Representatives in Abuja, where discussions centered on a bill advocating for the reintroduction of the parliamentary system of government, Obasanjo emphasized that the Western liberal democracy does not align with Africa’s value system.

Obasanjo underscored the absence of African elements within the framework of liberal democracy and urged African countries to devise democratic systems more attuned to their cultural and historical contexts.

He remarked, “Let me revisit our starting point—Western liberal democracy, which is native to Europeans. Western liberal democracy is a byproduct of their historical trajectory, cultural norms, and societal ethos.”

Obasanjo further highlighted linguistic disparities, noting that African languages lack an equivalent term for “loyal opposition,” a cornerstone concept in Western democracies. He explained that while Western democracies acknowledge opposition as “loyal,” rooted in their historical ties to monarchy, African governance historically diverged from such structures, with indigenous systems built around empires and kingdoms rather than oppositional politics.

Emphasizing the need for a democratic model tailored to Africa’s realities, Obasanjo proposed the concept of “afro-democracy” as a potential starting point for shaping governance systems that resonate with the continent’s heritage and aspirations.