Solution To Poor Governance Is More Democracy, Says Tinubu

…Obasanjo Asks African Leaders To Devise Contextual Democracy

Chigozie  Amadi

ABUJA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said through bitter experience, Nigeria has learned that the solu­tion to poor democratic gover­nance is to have more democracy.

President Tinubu also called for the strengthening of regional economic communities to drive integration and trade ties among African nations in order to deep­en democracy and accelerate de­velopment across the continent.

Tinubu, who made the call during the Summit on the State of Democracy in Africa on Wednes­day in Abuja, called for revitalisa­tion of sub-regional blocs like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) as vehicles to usher in an era of robust in­tra-African commerce, economic growth and job creation.

The president, who was rep­resented at the event by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said, “The immense potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can only be maximally realised when there is concrete economic integration and collaboration at the different sub-regional levels”.

Delivering the keynote ad­dress, President Tinubu urged the regional bodies to prioritise minimising trade barriers, pro­moting sustainable and inclusive economic growth, human capital development as well as value ad­dition in agriculture and agro-al­lied sectors.

“We must deliberate on ways through which African sub-re­gional organisations can help foster better intra-African trade, achieve better food and energy security, promote higher rates of youth employment, alleviate poverty and realise greater pros­perity for our people,” the presi­dent said.

President Tinubu noted that a reinvigorated sub-regional co­operation is critical for the suc­cessful implementation of the path-breaking AfCFTA by har­monising rules and regulations to facilitate the free movement of goods, services and people.

While acknowledging the “de­spair about democratic reversals” due to recent military coups, he expressed optimism about polls held successfully in nations like Liberia, Kenya, Ghana and Ni­geria.

He said, “The tragedies of our nations and histories inspire our concern about the reversals of democratic governments, partic­ularly in West Africa. That’s why we are alarmed by the military coups in Mali, Guinea Conakry, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Gabon.”

The president, however, ad­vocated discussions on empow­ering regional blocs to establish well-funded standby military forces “to help contain military adventurers and the rampaging waves of terrorism and religious extremism.”

President Tinubu urged Af­rican leaders to respect consti­tutional tenets like term limits, and ensure credible elections and autonomous institutions through the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to achieve democratic consolidation.

“This Summit must discuss ways of making the APRM contribute to achieving good governance and democratic consolidation on the continent,” he stated.

Declaring that Africa can no longer be the “doormat of the world with street beggar econo­mies”, President Tinubu called for concrete measures through reinvented regional bodies to boost trade, enhance security and entrench constitutional de­mocracy for development and prosperity.

Earlier in his keynote re­marks, former President of Ni­geria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said the answer to the myriad of challenges confronting democ­racy in Africa is in re-examining the model of democracy passed on to countries in the continent by their colonial masters.

He said leaders across the continent must come together to devise a form of contextual de­mocracy that takes into account past experiences, addresses con­temporary challenges and em­phasises good leadership, strong institutions, and a stable middle class, all reflecting Africa’s rich cultural heritage.

The former president who expressed concern about the growing discontent for democra­cy in the continent opined that the model that will work for Africa is one that takes into account the typical and predominant politi­cal system, and is “suitably and appropriately placed to serve the objectives of the African people”.

In her goodwill message, the UN Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the SDGs, Dr. Am­ina Mohammed, said the active participation of women and young people in politics, and other decision-making process­es will strengthen democracy in the continent.

She drew the attention of the authorities in the continent to the effective implementation of laws, adherence to the tenets of accountability, and improved investment in democratic institu­tions, noting that they are critical to the sustenance of democracy in Africa and beyond.

On his part, the former Presi­dent of the Nigerian Bar Associ­ation (NBA) and member of the Board of Directors, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), said the focus of the summit, which is “the state of democracy in Africa”, aligns to the cornerstone of the Founda­tion’s mission and vision.

He said participants at the summit are expected to thor­oughly interrogate the model of democracy practised in Africa vis-à-vis current challenges ex­perienced in the continent, to resolve the lingering issues and reshape democracy in the conti­nent.