Obasanjo criticizes Western democracy in Africa

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, criticized the Western liberal democracy model adopted by many African countries, arguing it lacks African context and content and fosters a winner-takes-all political culture. He likened the adoption to wearing an ill-fitting dress, and noted that in many African languages, 'opposition' translates to 'enemy,' leading to adversarial politics. Obasanjo also warned against poor management of diversity, highlighted the lack of female governors in Nigeria for over 24 years, and decried the growing influence of money in politics. He called for a democratic system rooted in African history, culture, and values, suggesting it could be called 'African democracy.' The dialogue was attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Namadi Sambo, and hosted by Nigeria — Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.