At the recent ‘State of Democracy in Africa Summit,’ former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo urged African leaders to seek solutions that are specifically designed for the continent’s unique circumstances to strengthen democracy.
The summit, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, was co-convened by the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation and the Ford Foundation.
In his keynote address, Obasanjo highlighted that the continent’s struggles with military coups are often exacerbated by external influences from Western, Russian, and Chinese interests. He emphasized the importance of addressing Africa’s challenges through locally relevant strategies.
“Prioritise solutions tailored to the unique socio-political and cultural context of the continent,” Obasanjo said.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, also addressed the summit, underscoring the necessity of regional integration and intra-African trade. Tinubu advocated for strengthening sub-regional blocs such as the Economic Community of West African States and the East African Community as a means to promote economic growth and enhance democratic practices across the continent.
President of the Ford Foundation, Darren Walker, focused on the relationship between democracy and hope, asserting that “inequality suffocates” people’s aspirations. He called on West Africans to reaffirm their commitment to democratic principles that center on citizen participation and respect for rights and freedoms.
“Inequality is the enemy of democracy. Inequality asphyxiates hope, and hope is the oxygen of democracy. Full, peaceful, participatory democracy is indeed the great equalizer,” Walker said.
Walker also addressed the current crisis in West Africa, where vulnerable communities face threats, authoritarianism is on the rise, and many youths are disillusioned with the prospects of democratic governance. Despite these challenges, he noted that the resilience of the people holds the potential for democratic renewal.
“Today, the people of West Africa paint a clear picture of a gathering crisis where minority groups and other vulnerable communities face threats to their rights and existence, authoritarian governments gaining more power, and the majority of youth being disillusioned that they will endorse military intervention if democratically elected leaders fail to deliver on their promise. However, we know that within these threats lie the seeds of democracy’s salvation—the people.”
