Olusegun Obasanjo, the former Nigerian President, has emphatically argued that Western liberal democracy has not proven effective for Africa. According to Obasanjo, liberal democracy fails to consider the continent’s history, culture, and tradition. In his keynote address at a high-level consultation on ‘Rethinking Western Liberal Democracy for Africa’ in Abeokuta, he criticized the Western style of democracy, stating that it neglects the views of the majority of the people. Obasanjo advocated for ‘Afro democracy’ as an alternative, asserting that African countries should define and design their governance systems. He urged a reevaluation of the performance of democracy in the West and called for innovative approaches that align with Africa’s needs and experiences.
