By Kolawole Ojebisi
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated why the Western liberal democracy is not suitable for Nigeria’s political milieu.
Obasanjo advocated a homegrown brand of democracy which would adopt to the country’s own local culture to find solutions to the myriads of challenges confronting the nation.
The former president and one-time military Head of State spoke on Wednesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a valedictory service organised in honour of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Prof. Chinedum Babalola.
He said Nigeria has its own peculiarities which can only be addressed by embracing our unique African culture which dwells predominantly on communalism, where according to him,” you come together, reason together, iron issues together, and work them out together.”
Obasanjo noted that Western liberal democracy was not working for the country.
”I have always been talking about Western liberal democracy; it is not working for us; it is not even working for those who gave it to us. The British were complaining. We must rethink democracy.
“We must bring our own culture into democracy. African culture does not talk about opposition; it talks about communalism; you come together, reason together, iron it out, and then you work together,” he said.
Obasanjo stated that there should be consequences for doing wrong, adding that there were Nigerians all over the world holding key positions.
“Nobody will do it for us; we have to do it for ourselves, and we can do it. I believe there are people everywhere; you just need to look for them.
”Look at today; the two major development banks in Africa are headed by Nigerians; the number two woman in the United Nations is a Nigerian—Amina Muhammed; so we have people.
”They are Nigerians from different parts of Nigeria; we have people. These are people who can contribute to the changes the nation requires,” he said.
Obasanjo described the outgoing vice chancellor as a woman of virtue who showed great leadership throughout her seven years at the helm of affairs at the university.
In his speech, the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olatunde Farombi, said that the outgoing vice-chancellor has repositioned the university to be one of the best in the country.
In her remarks, Babalola appreciated the founder of the university, Dr. Winifred Awosika, for what she called “ her support throughout her stay at the university.”
She promised to always be available anytime her expertise was required, praying that the university would continue to grow from strength to strength.
