Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Africa needs a democracy of its own context that delivers to all people.
He said to sustain democracy in the continent, Africa needed one that delivers to all people, not to few section, adding that the Greek model of democracy ensured that all citizens participated directly in their affairs.
Obasanjo said before the colonial rule, Africa practised democracy which attended to the needs of her people, lamenting that in Africa, democracy was becoming a system of government by a small number of people over a large population.
“Is democracy failing in Africa? Are we talking of democracy or western liberal democracy?
“Abraham Lincoln describes 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, but democracy has now become representative democracy and it doesn’t taken care of everyone.
“Democracy in Africa has failed because it’s not African, it doesn’t have our culture and way of lives.
“Democracy is dying in Africa and to save it, it should be made in the context of Africa,” Obasanjo said.
Also, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, said Nigeria could get rid of the crises which impede her development, through stable democratic governance.
Anyaoku said that Africa and Nigeria in particular, have the responsibility to get a stable democracy and change the Eurocentric narrative.
“True federalism is the answer to the management of national issues. The recent coup in Mali, Niger tend to take us back.
“The nature of our politics and the conduct of our politicians is another problem of our democracy. They have become instruments of capturing political power,” he said.
In his remarks, Ihedioha commended the guests for celebrating him at 60.
He urged Nigerians to continue to defend the country’s democracy.
According to him, my father told me that the most expensive habit is having friends. I have lived my life pursuing the cause for democracy.
“We should all rise to defend democracy. I urge all men to always speak truth to power and protect democracy.
“There’s life after money. I will remain who I am. For me and democracy, it is till God do us apart,” Ihedioha said.
