Our elections must reflect people’s will – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Wednesday, said elections
must reflect the will of the people for the citizens to reap the
dividends of democracy in Africa.

Obasanjo spoke in Abuja at a book launch which he co-authored,
with a title: “Democracy Works: Rewiring Politics to Africa’s
Advantage” sponsored by Brenthrust Foundation.

Greg Mills, Jeffrey Herbst and Tendai Biti are co-authors of the
book.

The former president, who noted that democratic practice varies
from one country to another, said democracy in Africa would be
promoted if elections are free, fair and credible.

According to him, the United Kingdom’s democratic practice
differs from the United States’ system.

“So, what can we do to enhance democracy in Africa?

”Election particularly, which is a democratic practice of every
country, must be carried out in such a way that it reflects the
will of the people,” he said.

He said election should be seen in a way that it gives the voice
to the voiceless.

He said the 266-page book was written in order to advance the
course of Africa and to ensure its development.

“The book focuses on areas of development that need attention
for African growth and development.

”We look at agricultural business, tourism, mining, hospitality,
industrialisation and manufacturing.

”We look at what to do to give every living human being in
Africa an improvement in his living condition,” he said.

Obasanjo, who noted that in the next 30 years, the population of
Nigeria would have doubled to about 400 million, said this might be
a sign of good or bad omen.

”That is good and bad. Good, if we are able to educate; good, if
we are able to empower and good if we are able to create employment
for that teaming population.

”But bad if we cannot meet the needs of the population; we will
be in trouble if we cannot be able to meet the needs of the
population,” he said.

He therefore stressed the need to ensure good governance in the
Nigerian polity.

According to the former president, this then boils down to
governance.

”So, the issue of governance must be addressed. And that is why
we wrote this book; Democracy Works,” he said.

Speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, Brenthrust Foundation,
Greg Mills, said Africa had undergone several transition
overtime.

According to him, if democracy is better equipped, it provides
checks and balances, it provides oxygen for the civil society
organisations, etc.

‘’Democrats have to work very hard to win election. Democracy
does not come cheap. These are the arguments we made in the book,”
he said.

Mills, who said the book contained no fewer than 300 interviews
conducted across the world, said it was time African countries
refrained from the culture of business-as-usual. (NAN)