Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Olisa Agbakoba has expressed the view that the Western model of democracy is failing to deliver results in Nigeria. Speaking on Channels TV on Monday, May 19, Agbakoba questioned the commitment of Nigerian politicians, accusing them of being primarily interested in seizing power rather than serving the people.
“I thought things would have been better than what we have today. After over 25 years of democracy since 1999, and prior military coups, something is fundamentally wrong with a system that is not delivering,” he said.
Agbakoba argued that Nigeria needs to shed the Western or “Oyibo” model of democracy, which he described as a system imposed by Europeans and Americans that does not suit Nigeria’s unique context.
He emphasized that Nigerians are less concerned about who occupies the presidency and more interested in a system that provides basic necessities such as food, education, infrastructure, timely payment of salaries, and housing.
“If you ask Nigerians broadly, ‘Who would you want to vote for?’ they will say they want to vote for food in their tummies, good schools, good roads, and a president who delivers,” he explained, citing China’s economic growth despite not practicing Western-style democracy.
Agbakoba called for a national conversation on adopting a political system that works for the majority of Nigerians, acknowledging the country’s deep divisions along ethnic, religious, and linguistic lines.
“My own answer is that the Western model of democracy may work in Europe, but it’s certainly not working here. We need to ask: what system can we put on the table that will work for Nigeria?” he concluded.
His remarks highlight ongoing debates about governance models best suited to Nigeria’s complex social and political realities.
