Obasanjo to African leaders: Prioritise solutions tailored to our unique context

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on African leaders to prioritise solutions that are unique to the continent to improve democracy. 

Obasanjo spoke at the ‘State of democracy in Africa summit’ co-convened by the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library,  Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

The former president said the challenges of military coups bedevilling the continent are often aggravated by external pressure from Western, Russian, and Chinese interests.

“Prioritise solutions tailored to the unique socio-political and cultural context of the continent,” Obasanjo said.

Also speaking, President Bola Tinubu emphasised the need for regional integration and intra-Africa trade through sub-regional blocs like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and East African Community (EAC).

Tinubu, who was represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, said establishing such strong ties among African countries would boost economic development and deepen democracy across the continent.

Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation, noted that democracy thrives where there is hope, adding that “inequality suffocates” people’s aspirations.

Walker urged the people of West Africa to reaffirm their commitment to the principles of peaceful and participatory democracy, which centres the voices of the citizens and respects their 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.

“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.”