Former Nigerian President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has shared details of a conversation with former U.S. President George W. Bush regarding his daughter’s unsuccessful Senate bid.
Speaking during a media coverage by Symfoni TV, Obasanjo described how he discussed his daughter’s electoral defeat with the 43rd American president. “My friend Bush Jr, who is the 43rd president of America, with whom we still remain friends. Anytime I go to America, I put a call to him to speak with him,” Obasanjo revealed. “So, my daughter contested an election as senator at that time and she lost. And when I saw him, I told him (Bush), I said my daughter contested an election as a senator and she lost. He said the election must be credible now.”
However, Obasanjo expressed his disagreement with Bush’s interpretation of the situation. “But to me, that’s not really the way that it should be looked at. But of course, that’s the way it is being assessed—that oh, if my daughter contested an election and she lost, it means that I didn’t interfere with the election and all that,” the former president explained.
Obasanjo used this story to critique Western perspectives on electoral credibility. He argued that the common belief among Western nations—that opposition victories automatically indicate fair elections—is flawed.
The former leader pointed out that opposition parties can also manipulate electoral processes to gain power through questionable means, which he said undermines democratic principles.
Obasanjo emphasized that genuine democracy should serve the people’s interests rather than become a tool for political manipulation by any party, whether ruling or opposition.
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