Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Wednesday, said elections must reflect the will of the people in order to reap the dividends of democracy.
Obasanjo said this in Abuja on Wednesday at a book launch which he co-authored with the title: “Democracy Works: Rewiring Politics to Africa’s Advantage”, sponsored by Brenthrust Foundation.
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.
He said: ”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.
“Election should be seen in a way that it gives the voice to the voiceless.”
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 stressed the need to ensure good governance in the Nigerian polity.
“So the issue of governance must be addressed. And that is why we wrote this book; Democracy Works,” he added.
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