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BENIN REPUBLIC: How African leaders play into the hands of coup plotters —Falana

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President Bola Tinubu’s request for approval to deploy Nigerian military forces for peace mission in Benin Republic has been approved by the Senate. In this interview, first aired on Channels TV Politics Today, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, takes a look at the legal, political and moral implications of the peace-keeping mission, noting that the environment must be conducive for coups to be stopped in Africa. Excerpts:....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

Legally speaking, is it proper for Nigeria to send troops to save the

situation in Benin Republic?

I think there are two issues here. Whereas the Constitution has empowered the president to seek the consent of the Senate before declaring war against any country, what we are told now is that this is in line with the protocol on democracy and good governance of ECOWAS. Even at that, Section 12 of the Constitution equally requires the president to seek the authorization of the National Assembly to have any agreement domesticated. But, I think what has happened here is the situation whereby the events in Benin Republic have implications for the security of Nigeria. Therefore, Nigeria will intervene, but there are very serious moral and political problems. Whereas the Senate has certified the intervention of Nigeria in Benin Republic, can you promote peace without justice? We had a meeting in Ghana last Saturday. We were celebrating Mohamed Ibn Chambas, a former president of ECOWAS, and a commissioner made a point that apart from Cape Verde and Senegal that have not experienced coup in West Africa, Ghana has joined the list of the few stable democracies in the region. Now for others, we have serious problems. Therefore, if we are going to help another country to stabilize, you must ensure that democracy in your own country is institutionalized.

What is going on in West Africa today is not just enough for the Senate to vote without analyzing what happened in Benin Republic. How did that country experience a coup in 2024 and a coup in 2025? In these neighbouring countries, even in Nigeria in October this year, there was an attempted coup, in Sierra Leone in December 2023, there was an attempted coup. Today, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso are under the military. Now, Benin Republic almost joined them. The rickety democratic systems in these countries might collapse and I mentioned Benin Republic where all the opposition figures are either in jail, on exile or in their graves. In Togo, since 1963, Eyadema the first and Eyadema the second have been in power. In July this year, Paul Eyadema or Nasigbe amended the Constitution of that country and removed term limit completely; no limitations as to how long he can be in power. His father was in power from 1963 to 2005 and he has been in power since 2005; now 20 years. He has now amended the Constitution to allow him to remain in power indefinitely. The guy in Cote D’Ivoire, at the age of 83, has just been sworn-in for a 4th term. He manipulated the Constitution of that country to get himself in power for a 4th term.

How did he do it? He chained his opponents and banned them for contesting the election with him. This is the picture. Nigeria clearly has its job cut for it. If we want to stop coups, we must ensure that we allow political pluralism in Nigeria. You cannot have a situation where the country is becoming a one-party state. You want to explore democracy as it works. There are more problems. So Nigeria has to put its house in order by allowing political pluralism. You must allow the opposition to be able to contest election in a credible manner, and this is the problem today in Africa, where you have a situation whereby the ruling parties, directly or indirectly, ban opposition political parties, render them impotent so that they cannot challenge you. You know what has just happened in Zambia where Madam Hassan charged the opposition leader for treason. In Uganda, Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, decided to abduct the opposition leader and have him driven recklessly to Kampala where he was charged before a tribunal.

Are you worried that the coup in Benin Republic may not be the last?

No, it won’t be the last. I am familiar with the political terrain. I am telling you,

once you put your opposition leaders in jail, you send them on exile or you kill them, you cannot have political stability and that is what is going on in Benin Republic where those in power have driven opposition political parties out of …

Is there any similarity to what is happening in Nigeria?

Nigeria has a challenge more than any of these countries to stabilize the region and, it has to do that effectively as Nigeria has done in the past, whether you want to talk about Sierra Leone or Liberia where Nigeria contributed immensely to the restoration of democracy or even in Gambia where Nigeria, in 2017, intervened and ensured that the man involved was treated like a bull in china shop. Even currently there is a new development in Africa whereby one president saw that he was losing election, and what did he do? He called his friends in the military, the military wing of his political party to take over power. Right now, the opposition leader in that country, Fernando Dias da Costa is currently holed up in our embassy in that country. Nigeria has insisted that his life must be saved, but we are also insisting that the result of the election that has been concluded according to former President Jonathan must be released. In the case of Nigeria, because we are part of the region, the military guys meet regularly in conferences and whenever they discover that the economy is in a bad shape, they discuss them. So, the people are unhappy, what saved Patrice Talon for now was that people did not troops to the street, if that had been so, it would have been difficult for French and Nigerian troops to stop the coup whereas in the cases of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, even Guinea, people trooped to the street to welcome the political opportunists in uniform. So, if we want to have political stability in Nigeria, you must address crisis of the economy, you must address poverty, you must address illiteracy, you must address security of lives and property. You must ensure that the political space doesn’t shrink. As it is now, we have the shrinking of political space; that must stop. There must be freedom of expression. You can’t be charging people with all manner of offenses just for expressing their views about the affairs of their country.

And, more importantly, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, must open the political space and allow ideologically based political parties to be registered and challenge the status quo. Right now, INEC is not prepared to open the political space.

Why is President Tinubu giving special attention to the coup in Benin Republic unlike the previous ones in the neighbouring countries?

This is not the first time it has happened. In 2010, then Prime Minister of Sao Tome and Principe was visiting Nigeria when President Obasanjo was in charge. He was in Abuja when there was a report of a coup in that country. President Obasanjo told the coup leaders: “You had better hand over and disappear from the Presidential Villa, otherwise I will send a battalion to remove you and other rascals from power”. They had to leave for fear that Nigeria might invade their country. Already, you are aware of Sierra Leone and Liberia, Charles Taylor was brought to Nigeria before he was handed over to the special court. He was brought to Abuja. Nigeria has been playing this role.

So, we intervened in all cases. But, what has happened like I said is that Benin Republic is different from Niger, different from Burkina Faso and different from Mali. Once the people troop out, it is difficult for the invader to invade any country because you are to fight the people who are on the street, not just the coup plotters isolated on Sunday. So you need to study what happened on Sunday. In the case of Niger, in the case of Burkina Faso, in the case of Mali, people were on the streets to protest against any invasion. So, the challenge before our civilian governments, democratic governments is to ensure that you don’t play into the hands of military opportunists who are waiting to take advantage of mass discontentment and disenchantment to take over power.

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Kano State Commissioner of Science and Technology resigns, cites deviation from founding political ideals

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Kano State Commissioner of Science and Technology, Yusif Ibrahim Kofar Mata has announced his resignation from office, citing what he described as a departure from the political principles upon which the current administration was established.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

The resignation was disclosed in a statement posted on his official Facebook account.

In the statement, the former commissioner said his decision was guided by conscience and loyalty to the original vision that informed the formation of the government.

“I stepped down from my position as commissioner in order to distance myself from a political direction that deviates from the ideals and struggle upon which this government was founded,” he said.

He expressed gratitude to God and to key political leaders for the opportunity to serve, specifically acknowledging the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf.

“I thank Almighty Allah, our revered leader, Sen. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, as well as the good people of Kano, for the support and cooperation extended to me during my tenure,” the statement read.

The former commissioner noted that he served in the Ministry of Higher Education and later in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, where he contributed to several key initiatives aimed at advancing education and innovation in the state.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Kano through the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and other critical assignments entrusted to me,” he added.

He concluded the statement with a note of appreciation and resignation to faith, saying, “Alhamdulillah.”

As of the time of filing this report, the Kano State Government has not issued an official response to the resignation.

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BREAKING: Godfatherism in Nigerian politics must come to an end — APC chieftain

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A federal commissioner representing Edo, Ekiti and Ondo states at the Federal Civil Service Commission, Henry Idahagbon, has described godfatherism as a Nigerian invention that must be consciously dismantled.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

Idahagbon said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.

According to him, “I believe that the concept of godfatherism is a uniquely Nigerian invention. Maybe it’s one of Nigeria’s negative contributions to the development of democracy.”

He noted that all over the world, including the United States and most developed democracies, there are very influential political leaders whose views go a long way in determining election outcomes.

“But there is nothing that can be compared with the Nigerian concept of godfatherism. That is why I said it’s a unique Nigerian creation, a Nigerian invention.

“In Rivers and Edo, we have seen and are still seeing the negative impact of godfatherism. Those two states represent perhaps the worst species of godfatherism in Nigeria.

“At the peak of the Obaseki and Oshiomhole imbroglio, we saw Obaseki practically declaring Oshiomhole a persona non grata in a state that he governed for eight years.

“I remember we had to arrange for private security to escort Oshiomhole from the airport just to get to his house.

“On many occasions, his cars were stoned, but for the fact that they were bulletproof, he would have been injured. And I happened to be the only person who was in his house the day thugs came to attempt to burn down his house.

“And the same thing is playing out again in Rivers State. We have the Minister of the FCT, who keeps breathing down the neck of Governor Siminalayi Fubara because he brought him to power.

“So it’s something that the Nigerian political class has to consciously dismantle,” he said.

Idahagbon, who was a former attorney-general and commissioner for justice during Oshiomhole’s administration, emphasised the need for governors and presidents to disengage from power after leaving office.

“When governors and presidents leave office, they should leave for good. They should not be engaged in the process of determining their successors.

“In my opinion, political actors want to determine who succeeds them because of two factors. They want protection when they leave office.’

“So if governors do well, like I believe Gov. Alex Otti of Abia is doing in his state now, you don’t need to determine who succeeds you. Anybody can succeed you if your records are clean.

“So we should consciously, like Oshiomhole during his campaign and tenure said, say no to godfatherism and embrace one man, one vote; one governor, one vote.

“I think that mantra should become a national mantra — one man, one vote — and let us say no to godfatherism because it has negative implications for our polity,” the federal commissioner added.

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2027: Ex-lawmakers endorse Tinubu, seek constitutional backing for rotational presidency

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Former federal lawmakers, under the auspices of the National Forum of Former Legislators, have adopted President Bola Tinubu as their sole candidate for the 2027 general election and called for the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency to sustain national unity beyond 2031.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the NFFL 2026 National Summit, themed “National unity and nation building beyond 2031,” held on Saturday in Abuja.

Presenting the communiqué, the forum said its deliberations were guided by the need for national cohesion and the integration of Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities.

“We adopt President Bola Tinubu as our sole candidate for the 2027 general election.

“We reaffirm that dialogue, consultation and peaceful engagement must always remain Nigeria’s primary tool for resolving political, social and regional challenges.

“Nigerian issues must be resolved by Nigerians through dialogue, constitutional and democratic means,” the communiqué read in part.

On power rotation, the former lawmakers resolved that the presidency should return to the North in 2031 in line with the principles of equity, inclusion and national balance.

“In keeping with the spirit of fairness and national balance, we affirm that the presidency should return to the Northern region in 2031, after the completion of the Southern presidency,” the communiqué added.

To eliminate uncertainty and recurring political tension, the forum urged that the principle of rotation be clearly embedded in the Constitution.

“We call for the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency to promote fairness, strengthen national unity and provide clarity for future generations,” the communiqué stressed.

The forum also passed a vote of confidence in the Tinubu-led administration, resolving that the President should be supported to complete two full terms in office.

“In order to consolidate ongoing reforms, strengthen national unity and deepen democratic governance, we collectively resolve that the current President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be supported to complete the full eight years,” it said.

The forum reaffirmed its commitment to a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria and called on political leaders and citizens to uphold democratic values and national cohesion.

“We call on all political leaders, institutions and citizens to uphold the values of democracy, justice and national cohesion in the collective interest of our great nation,” the communiqué concluded.

Speaking at the event, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, warned that Nigeria’s survival and relevance in a rapidly changing global order depend fundamentally on national unity, describing cohesion as a “strategic necessity” rather than a moral option.

Gbajabiamila told former lawmakers from across the country that global instability has made experienced leadership and internal cohesion more critical than ever.

“We meet at a moment when the world appears unsettled and uncertain of its direction.

“Yet, it is precisely in moments such as these that leadership is most needed. Your willingness to convene and contribute once more to national discourse speaks volumes about your enduring commitment to the idea of Nigeria,” he said.

He conveyed Tinubu’s goodwill to the forum, describing the NFFL as a reservoir of experience that continues to guide the administration’s policy direction.

“President Tinubu has asked me to convey his profound appreciation to the NFFL for your sustained dedication to nation-building.

“He continues to draw strength, insight and guidance from the depth of political judgment, legislative experience and administrative wisdom that this Forum embodies,” Gbajabiamila said.

According to him, the institutional memory of former lawmakers must be leveraged to deepen the nation’s economy.

“The institutional memory represented in this room is a national asset of immense value.

“It must be deliberately harnessed to inform present choices and illuminate future pathways,” he added.

Gbajabiamila stressed that nation-building transcends electoral cycles and individual administrations.

“Nation-building is not an event, nor the exclusive responsibility of any single administration. It is a continuum,” he said.

Citing the opening words of the 1999 Constitution, the Chief of Staff noted that Nigeria was never intended to exist as a collection of rival groups.

“Those words affirm that Nigeria was never meant to be a collection of rival camps, but one people bound together by a shared hope and a common future,” he said, adding that unity was “a solemn duty we owe to one another.”

He warned that internal divisions would weaken Nigeria’s capacity to navigate an evolving global order.

“In a world that increasingly rewards scale and strategic clarity, internal disunity weakens national capacity.

“A divided nation struggles to project strength, negotiate effectively or protect its interests,” Gbajabiamila said.

Prolonged disunity, he added, would expose the country to economic and security risks.

“Disunity at this moment does not merely delay progress; it multiplies risk, magnifies vulnerability and transmits insecurity across generations,” he warned.

Describing rotational presidency between the North and South as a stabilising political mechanism rooted in national wisdom, Gbajabiamila cautioned against allowing personal ambition to undermine national balance.

“The principle of a rotational presidency stands as one of the clearest expressions of principled compromise in the service of our national interest.

“No personal aspiration should be allowed to endanger the hard-won balance that sustains our country,” he said.

He also warned against identity-based politics, noting that ethnic and religious mobilisation for political gain erodes trust and weakens the state.

“When political competition amplifies ethnic suspicion or religious fear, it corrodes trust and weakens the foundations of the state,” he said.

Earlier, the NFFL National Coordinator, Mr Raphael Igbokwe, said the forum’s position on power rotation followed extensive consultations across the country.

“Following our Northern and Southern dialogue sessions, we collectively agreed that in the interest of unity, peace and national progress, the South should complete its eight-year term,” Nnanna said.

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