Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has attributed the recent surge in coups in some African nations to bad governance, nepotism, and favoritism.
The 86-year-old former President shared these insights during an interactive session on public service and governance at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. The event was attended by members of the Africa for Africa Youth Initiative from various countries, including Botswana, Benin, Ghana, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
He expressed that democracy without integrity and with sit-tight leaders exacerbates the coup d’état phenomenon in Africa.
In the past two months, the military has seized power in democratically elected governments in countries like Gabon and Niger Republic, citing poor leadership and mismanagement of resources as reasons for their interventions.
Obasanjo, who despite being a military leader revealed his aversion to military rule, having endured hardship during the late military dictator General Sanni Abacha’s regime, pointed out that the citizens’ dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs often leads them to seek alternative liberators, contributing to the prevalence of military coups.
Discussing ways to curb the frequent occurrence of coups and ensure political stability on the continent, Obasanjo raised concerns about the conditions that may be encouraging coups. He questioned the idea of full independence for former French colonial countries, highlighting the case of Malians expressing a desire to distance themselves from France.
ALSO READ: US Dep Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo Reveals How Nigeria Can Attract Significant FDI
He said, “If some of the things coming out from these former French colonial countries are true like the Malians saying they don’t want to have anything to do with France again, one might really be asking if France has ever granted these countries full independence.
Obasanjo also pondered the effectiveness of democracy in delivering tangible benefits to the people, considering the challenges faced by African youths. He recounted a heartbreaking encounter with young people who attempted perilous journeys across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean in search of better prospects.
While he expressed his love for democracy and his aversion to military rule, Obasanjo acknowledged that addressing the conditions leading to coups is crucial. He noted that it’s concerning when youths begin seeking alternative leaders outside the existing government.
“Secondly, we are told that democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people, but you may ask which people? And what does this democracy deliver?
“On one occasion, I got about a dozen or two boys and girls who have attempted to go across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean. When they told me their story, I wept. When you see and hear that kind of thing, what do you do? Yes, I love democracy, having suffered in the hands of Abacha, I will never love military rule; but if it has to come, what can we do?
“However, we should ask ourselves this question: Do we have conditions that are encouraging these coups on our continent?
“Because if we don’t have the conditions that encourage them, it will not happen, though this does not mean that we must encourage them. Why are we allowing the youths to begin the search for liberators beyond the government of the day?
“When I left secondary school, I got five jobs. How many of you will finish university now and have five jobs waiting? You will be lucky to have even one or two. Think of a situation where somebody said there will be job creation, there will be employment, there will be wealth creation, you will say wow, this sounds interesting, but can it be done? Let me make it clear that I don’t support coups because personally, I have been a victim.”