Obasanjo, Jonathan Demand Reforms to Build Democracy, Keep Courts Safe

By Aminat Damilola, Assistant Editor

In a joint appeal, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan urged systemic changes to reinforce democratic governance and protect judiciary in Nigeria and across Africa.

Speaking at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation’s 11th Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, political leaders urged African nations to reform and strengthen their electoral processes.

To protect democracy across the continent, they also called on leaders to defend democratic institutions, stop political interference, and improve governance structures.

The event examined the theme “Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and the Judiciary Save African Democracy?” Co-hosted by Governor Bala Mohammed and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, it drew prominent leaders.

Attendees included Court of Appeal President Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, lawmakers, judges, and civil society experts from across the continent..

Obasanjo pointed out that iberal democracy is unsuitable for Africa. He added that the Western liberal democracy inherited by many African countries was ill-suited to African realities because it has encouraged a winner-takes-all political culture.

According to him: “The democracy we practise has no African context and no African content. If you try to use what is not meant for you to serve your purpose, it is like a dress for which you are not measured. It will not fit and it will not serve your purpose.”

Obasanjo said the first-past-the-post electoral system had deepened political divisions across the continent, urging African countries to develop democratic systems rooted in their own history, culture and values.

He added: “Call it democracy if you like, or call it African democracy, but it must have African context and African content.”

The former president also said that Nigeria’s diversity should be protected rather than exploited.

He said: “Nigeria is what it is because of our diversity. Remove diversity from Nigeria and you will probably have the Republic of Oduduwa or the Republic of Danfodio, but that will not be Nigeria.”

Former President Jonathan who co chaired the dialogue, called for a national debate on the restructuring of governance architecture, saying that the concentration of powers in the presidency had weakened democracy and accountability.

He said: “Probably, we need to go back to the pre-independence and early independence days of having a parliamentary system where powers are shared.

“In Nigeria today, one person has almost all the powers. We need to have more conversations on the structure of leadership in our governance and what model will best suit our unique circumstances.”

Jonathan also criticised the culture of election litigation, describing it as unusual compared with many African democracies where elections are largely settled at the ballot box.

He added: “The Nigerian situation is extremely different from most other African countries. The kind of election litigations we experience here is uncommon.”

Jonathan warned that public confidence in political judgments had declined, adding that highly controversial electoral disputes should, in some cases, be returned to the electorate.

He stressed: “In some highly controversial cases, it is better for the election to go back to the people.”

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