*"Democracy Will Never Die," Bishop Kukah Declares, Urging Shift from Pessimism to Survival* *-By Ruben Mario Brodrick* ​ACCRA, GHANA—In a stirring keynote address at a high-level dialogue on September 17, 2025, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, challenged the very premise of the conference, arguing that the focus on "Why Democracies Die" is a pessimistic and ultimately misleading approach to understanding African governance. ​Delivering his address at the Accra International Conference Centre, Bishop Kukah contended that democracy, while facing formidable challenges, is an "uncancellable human instinct" and has proved itself to be "the most potent weapon yet invented by humans for preventing the malicious use of power." ​Kukah criticized the conference's theme, suggesting it was inspired by a cynical, Western-centric view that fails to account for Africa's unique historical journey. He called out what he termed the "patronizing self-righteousness" of Western leaders, citing former U.S. President Barack Obama's 2012 speech in Accra, which emphasized "strong institutions over strong men" while ignoring the historical exploitation that built those very institutions. ​Africa's Resilience and a New Path ​The Bishop highlighted that Africa's democratic progress must be viewed against its history of colonialism and military rule, which fractured the democratic ecosystem. However, he declared that despite years of misrule and flawed elections, the continent has turned a corner. ​"Our people have now realized that military rule has proved itself to be a cure worse than the disease," Kukah stated, pointing to Nigeria and Ghana as prime examples where citizens no longer call for coups. He praised Nigeria's historic feat of conducting seven consecutive elections since 1999, which he said proved that the people have nailed their hopes on the "mast of Democracy." ​Kukah paid a special tribute to former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, whose singular act of conceding defeat in 2015 was a pivotal moment. "You had a standing army, you had the resources and the power to overturn the elections, but you chose the path of honor," the Bishop told Jonathan, who was present at the event. ​The Unkillable Instinct of Freedom ​Framing his core argument, Kukah said the issues often cited as signs of democracy’s death—such as institutional fragility and shrinking civic space—are merely symptoms, not the underlying disease. "Democracy cannot die because it is part of the human instinct, our thirst and hunger for justice, love, fairness, integrity, sense of belonging, community and family," he said. ​He likened democracy to a garden that requires tending, and a flame that may flicker but will never go out. The true measure of a democracy's health, he argued, is the strength of its institutions and the resolve of its people to resist authoritarianism. ​Concluding on a powerful note, Bishop Kukah affirmed that democracy has outlived its greatest enemies, from demagogues and emperors to Nazism and apartheid. "As long as there are brave men and women like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, and thousands of people who continue to risk life and limb to defend honor," he said, "the embers of Democracy will continue to flicker. We... will remain custodians of this flame."