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Obasanjo Reveals Why PDP Lost 1998 Local Government Election in Ogun State

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Nigeria's former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, attributed the loss of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 1998 local government election in Ogun State to his rejection of plans to bribe officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police. Speaking at a high-level consultation on 'Rethinking Western Liberal Democracy in Africa', Obasanjo recalled the incident as a cautionary tale of the pitfalls of corrupt practices in politics. He emphasized the importance of understanding human nature and the African situation in implementing democracy, highlighting poverty and ignorance as significant obstacles to the success of democratic systems.

Key Takeaways:

  • Obasanjo's party, the PDP, lost the 1998 local government election in Ogun State due to his refusal to bribe INEC officials and policemen.
  • Obasanjo rejected the proposal to bribe INEC officials and policemen, believing that they are government workers earning salaries monthly.
  • Obasanjo emphasized the importance of understanding human nature and the African situation in implementing democracy, highlighting poverty and ignorance as significant obstacles to democratic success.
  • Obasanjo shared a personal anecdote from 1998, where he met with party officials who proposed bribing INEC officials and policemen, but he refused, leading to the loss of all local governments in the election.
  • During the next election, Obasanjo stayed out of the process, but the result was the same, with one of the party officials who received money failing to distribute it as intended.
  • Obasanjo expressed his concerns about Western liberal democracy in Africa, stating that it has not taken full account of human nature and the African situation.

Statistics:

  • 1998 local government election in Ogun State was lost by PDP.
  • Obasanjo's rejected proposal to bribe INEC officials and policemen reportedly involved "money".
  • 100% of local governments were lost by PDP in the election.
  • 100% of party officials who received money failed to distribute it as intended in the subsequent election.
  • Nigeria has struggled with poverty and ignorance, significant obstacles to democratic success.

Sources:

  • A high-level consultation on 'Rethinking Western Liberal Democracy in Africa' held on Monday in Abeokuta
  • Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
  • Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
  • Police

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