Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised the model of democracy practised across much of Africa, saying it lacks African context and content and has created a winner-takes-all approach to politics.

Obasanjo said the Western liberal democracy inherited by many African countries was not designed around the continent’s realities, likening its adoption to wearing a dress that was not made to fit.

He argued that the model has created a political culture in which election winners often disregard those who lose.

The former president spoke on Tuesday at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital.

“The Western liberal democracy that we inherited pulls from monarchy, hence we can have government and loyal opposition, loyal to the monarchy. But when you talk about loyal opposition in an African setting and I have gone into many of African languages, opposition means enemy, that is the word. Then do you have a loyal enemy? So, what do you do with your enemy? You crush him and destroy him and that is what we have.

“The democracy we practice has no African context, no African content and if you try to use what is not meant for you to serve your purpose, it is like a dress for which you are not measured, you try to put it on, it is either too small for you or too big for you. It will not fit and it will not serve your purpose. In practice, we have winner takes all, first path post. If you beat me by one vote then you take it all and whatever I have does not matter,” Obasanjo said.

The former Nigerian leader also lamented what he described as poor management of diversity, warning against a democracy that completely disregards the importance of diversity.

He said diversity remained central to African and other societies and must be deliberately protected and nurtured.

“Nigeria is what it is because of our diversity. Remove diversity out of Nigeria you will probably have Republic of Oduduwa, that will not be Nigeria or Republic of Danfodio, that will not be Nigeria. That diversity must be nourished and be taken care of,” he said.

Obasanjo also decried the growing influence of money and other forms of inducement in politics, saying they had been increasing “by leaps and bounds.”

While acknowledging that widespread poverty and illiteracy do not help democracy, the former president also criticised gender imbalance in Nigerian politics since the beginning of the Fourth Republic.

“In Nigeria, you call this one fourth republic, we have not elected a female governor in more than 24 years. And yet the people we are electing, most of them lack character, the lack attributes and values that can endure and can uplift.”

On the way forward, Obasanjo said Nigeria needed more than simply borrowing political parties and judicial structures, stressing that democracy was a continuous process rather than a destination.

He said the countries from which African nations adopted Western liberal democracy were themselves reconsidering aspects of the system, questioning why Africans should not also reassess the model.

“Call it what you like, just make sure it has history, culture and values that are African. You can call it democracy if you like, you can call it African democracy. In that case it will be African with African context and African content,” he said.

The dialogue, chaired by Obasanjo, was attended by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed hosted the event, which also brought together constitutional experts and civil society voices from across the continent.

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has thrown its weight behind the ongoing industrial action by aviation workers, insisting that no employer has the right to prevent workers from joining trade unions.

TUC President, Festus Osifo, stated this on Tuesday during a briefing on the state of the nation in Abuja, declaring the Congress’s full support for the aviation workers’ action.

Osifo warned that the TUC would resist any attempt by employers to victimise workers for exercising their right to unionise.

On security and the economy, the TUC called on the Federal Government to sustain its policies while urgently addressing insecurity to enable farmers return to their farms and ease food supply challenges.

The Congress said although the microeconomy was showing signs of stabilisation, the macroeconomy remained a concern. Osifo also said the naira remained undervalued, with implications for the cost of living.

On policing, the TUC said the time had come for the implementation of state police and urged the National Assembly to fast-track the bill. It also called for the deployment of technology to strengthen efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.

On the energy sector, the Congress opposed the outright sale of government-owned refineries, advocating instead for the retention and proper management of government equity in the facilities.

The TUC also raised concerns over the remittance of the five per cent charge and workers’ welfare, while commending the Federal Government for the recent salary increase approved for military officers.

The Congress said it would continue to engage the Federal Government until concrete measures were taken to address economic hardship, insecurity and workers’ welfare.

Passengers were left stranded at airports in Lagos and Abuja on Tuesday as members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) disrupted flight operations in protest over unmet demands from domestic airlines.

The industrial action, which grounded several flight schedules, is linked to the unions’ demands concerning workers’ unionisation and the remittance of statutory charges to the aviation regulator.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) appealed to the unions to sheathe their swords and exercise restraint pending “the return” of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who has been working towards resolving the issues.

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has partnered Mikano Motors to launch an auto financing scheme, themed: ‘Drive Your Dream Today’, specifically designed to ease the purchase of new vehicles by making them more accessible to Nigerians. The flexible Financing solutions Initiative, requires customers to make an initial payment of just 30 percent while the Bank finances the remaining 70 percent.

Unveiled at the Mikano Motors showroom in Victoria Island, Lagos, the scheme allows eligible customers to repay the financed amount in instalments over a period of 36 months at an interest rate of 23 percent.

The financing is available to a broad range of customers, including individuals who are not on a salaried income, providing entrepreneurs, and other eligible Nigerians with a structured pathway to vehicle ownership.

The process begins with a simple eligibility check. Interested customers can visit their nearest UBA branch or email [email protected] to confirm their eligibility. Once approved, customers can proceed to Mikano Motors to obtain a proforma invoice for their preferred vehicle and continue with the financing process.

Speaking at the launch, UBA’s Group Executive Director, designate, Personal and Business Banking, Chidi Okpala, said the partnership reflects the Bank’s commitment to making everyday aspirations more attainable while promoting a stronger credit culture and advancing financial inclusion.

“Owning a car should not be out of reach for hardworking Nigerians, and this partnership makes it far more achievable,” Okpala said. “A customer puts down 30 percent, we finance the rest, and they pay us back comfortably over a three years period. By removing the single biggest barrier to vehicle ownership where a customer just commits with an upfront cost, we are showing what customer-first banking looks like in practice, which is making their lives easier, by meeting our customers where they are and helping them get where they want to be.”

Also speaking, UBA’s Group Head, Consumer Lending, Frank Okoh, said the scheme was designed to make vehicle financing straightforward and accessible to both salaried and self-employed customers.

“We have kept the entry simple and the terms clear, whether you earn a salary or run your own business,” Okoh said. “A short eligibility check at any branch or by email is all it takes to begin, and our team guides the customer through every step to the moment they collect their keys.”

For Mikano Motors, the partnership provides an opportunity to extend its vehicle ownership proposition to a wider pool of Nigerians

The company’s General Manager, Tarek Mostafa, said the collaboration aligns with Mikano Motors’ vision of providing customers with a high-end ownership experience supported by reliable after-sales services.

“Mikano Motors was established to give Nigerians a high-end ownership experience, from the showroom to years down the road,” Mostafa said. “The backbone of any automotive business is not just the sale, but the after-sales service that follows. Every vehicle we sell is backed by genuine spare parts, reliable maintenance and quality service available anywhere in the country. Wherever you are we would come meet you at no extra cost”

“Partnering with UBA lets more customers enjoy that experience, and we are proud to build lasting relationships alongside a bank that shares our commitment to service,” he added.

Established in 2018 under Mikano International, Mikano Motors builds on more than 35 years of the group’s presence in Nigeria. The company offers a diversified portfolio of vehicles supported by nationwide sales and after-sales services.

The partnership further strengthens UBA’s consumer lending proposition, providing customers with structured financing solutions designed around accessibility, affordability and convenience. Through partnerships such as this, the Bank continues to expand access to credit while helping customers meet significant personal and lifestyle needs with ease.

United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group-wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting-edge technology.