‘I’m worried about democracy, we’re caged’ – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed deep concern over the trajectory of governance across the continent, arguing that imported political models have hindered true self-determination.

Speaking as a panelist at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue 2026 in Bauchi State, the former Nigerian leader criticized the wholesale adoption of foreign systems, stating:

“There is no democracy in Africa, but borrowed and forced liberal democracy that has caged Africans.”

Addressing the core premise of political structures on the continent, Obasanjo challenged the notion of a tailored governance model and questioned current trajectories:

“Is there African democracy? Let us not deceive ourselves. There’s nothing like African democracy. We were given Western liberal democracy by our colonial masters..

“For quite some time, I have been increasingly worried about the performance of democracy in Africa, and indeed, in other regions of the world.” he further stated

He noted that concerns regarding these governance frameworks were widely shared, referencing previous discussions hosted by the organization on the systemic challenges facing liberal traditions. Clarifying the scope of his critique, he highlighted how alternative systems view their own stability differently compared to traditional Western frameworks:

“Let me emphasise that we are referring to Western liberal democracy because the Chinese will not agree with you that their own democracy is dying. And maybe the Swiss, who have practised some form of direct democracy, may also not agree with you that their democracy is dying.” he added