On Monday, the Presidency attributed the current state of Nigeria's democracy to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, spoke to The PUNCH, highlighting that the democratic system in the country originated from direct interventions by Obasanjo during his tenure as military Head of State from 1976 to 1979 and as civilian President from 1999 to 2007.
"Onanuga noted, "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. So, the way he is sounding, it is like the man is getting wiser after leaving office," in response to Obasanjo's post-presidential stance.
The Presidency's reaction came in the wake of statements by Obasanjo during the high-level consultation on Rethinking Western Liberal Democracy in Africa, which took place at Green Resort Legacy, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo, in his remarks, criticized Western democracy, contending that it had not effectively delivered good governance and development in Africa. He advocated for a reassessment and adjustment of democracy to better align with the needs of African nations, highlighting the Western model's failure to consider African history and complexities.
Obasanjo put forth the idea of "Afro democracy," a concept designed to suit the distinctive needs of the African continent. The former president pointed out that the limitation of liberal democracy stemmed from its non-indigenous nature, neglecting crucial factors such as African history and multicultural complexities.
Critiquing Western liberal democracy, Obasanjo characterized it as a system where a select few govern the entire population, and these few representatives only truly represent a portion of the people, not the entirety. Consequently, the majority of the people are either knowingly or unknowingly excluded from active participation.
According to him, African nations should not adopt a system of governance in which they play no role in its "definition and design."
Obasanjo expressed, "The weaknesses and failures of liberal democracy, as currently practiced, arise from its historical origins, content, context, and implementation. Once you shift from governance by the entire populace to representation by a few, challenges and issues inevitably emerge.
"For those who characterize it as the rule of the majority, the question arises: should the minority be ignored, neglected, and excluded? In essence, we find ourselves operating under a system of government that we did not actively contribute to shaping and designing, persisting with it even when it is evident that it is not working for us.
"Those who introduced it are now questioning the appropriateness of their creation, its effectiveness, and its relevance today without necessary reforms. The fundamental purpose of any system of government should be the welfare and well-being of all the people, not just a select few."
He contended that Nigerians should scrutinize the performance of democracy in the West, its place of origin, especially as they are inheritors of the system left by colonial powers.
However, the Presidency rebuked the former leader for inadequately replicating the model during his terms as Head of State and later as President. It criticized Obasanjo for not advocating a superior system despite his present perspectives, stating, "If he truly believes in what he is asserting now, he should be championing a return to the parliamentary system."
Onanuga further commented, "We were practicing the parliamentary democracy the British left for us. Then, the military intervened in 1966. When we were poised to reinstate democracy, instead of reverting to our previous parliamentary system, which was cost-effective, it was Obasanjo who endorsed the recommendation of the constitutional assembly at that time, advocating for this American-style democracy."
The Presidency censured Obasanjo's implementation of the presidential system, asserting, "Obasanjo was aware that he erroneously adopted this presidential system. He replicated the form and structure but overlooked its essence."
"He even attempted to amend the constitution during his tenure from 1999 to 2007," Onanuga remarked.