"We lost the election because we refused to engage in bribery with INEC and the police," said Obasanjo.
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“We lost the election because we refused to engage in bribery with INEC and the police,” said Obasanjo.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recounted a pivotal moment in 1998 when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to which he belonged, lost a local government election in Ogun State. He revealed that the party leaders had suggested allocating funds for bribes to the police and personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, Obasanjo rejected the proposal, asserting that both INEC officials and policemen were government employees receiving regular salaries.

Speaking in Abeokuta during a high-level consultation on ‘Rethinking Western Liberal Democracy in Africa,’ Obasanjo expressed discomfort with the term “Nigerian factor” in discussions about democracy and development issues. He shared his experience during the first local government election, where the party lost because he refused to adhere to the so-called Nigerian factor.

Obasanjo recalled the party leaders advising him to allocate money for INEC and the police, to which he responded by questioning the necessity, considering that these officials were salaried government workers. Despite his refusal, the party lost all local governments. In the subsequent State Assembly election, he distanced himself, allowing the party to proceed without his involvement. However, the outcome remained unfavorable.

Emphasizing the inadequacies of Western liberal democracy in Africa, Obasanjo argued that it fails to fully consider human nature and the African context. He urged a realistic approach, highlighting that poverty and lack of education pose significant threats to democracy. The former President noted that individuals facing hunger might easily trade their votes for meager amounts, such as N1000.

In summary, Obasanjo underscored the need to address poverty and lack of education deliberately, recognizing them as formidable obstacles to the success of democracy in Africa.

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