By Ken Afor
At the Summit on the State of Democracy in Africa, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu issued a resounding call to action to tackle the “crisis of democracy” facing the continent.
The two-day summit, organised by the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation and Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, to honour the legacy of the late Nigerian leader, brought together current and former heads of state, democracy activists, experts and civil society representatives to chart a course for defending and consolidating democracy across Africa.
Tinubu, who currently chairs the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), lamented the wave of military coups and counter-coups that have undermined democratic institutions in countries like Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
He emphasised the urgency of restoring democratic governance in these nations through diplomacy, persuasion, and the power of example.
“We shall continue to strive through persuasion, diplomacy and the power of our examples to encourage the military leaders in the affected countries to restore democratic governance,” Tinubu declared, referring to the ECOWAS efforts to resolve the crisis.
Drawing lessons from Nigeria’s own turbulent history, the president underscored the superiority of democracy over military autocracy, stating, “We have learnt through bitter experience that the worst form of democracy is far better than the best form of military autocracy.”
Tinubu called on African leaders to leverage mechanisms like the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to hold one another accountable and uphold democratic standards, including free and fair elections, respecting term limits, and maintaining the integrity of institutions like the judiciary and legislatures.
The summit also highlighted the pivotal role of regional economic communities in fostering greater integration, security, and adherence to democratic principles.
The Nigerian leader urged these sub-regional groupings to prioritize initiatives that promote intra-African trade, food and energy security, youth employment, and poverty alleviation.
Despite the challenges, the former Lagos State Governor drew inspiration from successful elections held in countries like Liberia, Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria itself, emphasising that continuous democratic practice is crucial for institutionaliding transparency and accountability.
“We do not espouse the cause of democracy to sound politically correct or just for the fancy of it. We do so because we believe that the ultimate purpose of democracy must be to provide good, honest, and responsible governance that will promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people,” Tinubu asserted.
