A former federal lawmaker and political scholar, Prof. Mojeed Alabi, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to deploy Nigerian military assets to the Benin Republic, saying the action falls within the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
He also warned that the rising wave of military takeovers in West Africa is a symptom of deep public frustration and unrealistic expectations of government.
Alabi made these remarks on Tuesday, while featuring on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, and monitored by our correspondent in Abeokuta.
According to him, nothing in the Constitution bars the Commander-in-Chief from taking urgent military action during a security emergency.
He said, “What people are quoting is not what the Constitution says, the President does not need approval before he deploys troops. What the Constitution says is that he cannot keep the military on foreign soil for more than seven days without approaching the National Assembly. There is a clear difference.”
Alabi argued that urgent security situations rarely allow leaders the luxury of legislative consultations, adding that if Nigerian troops are deployed only to stabilise an unfolding situation, “the next lawful step is for the President to notify the national assembly and if ratified by the lawmakers, the operation continues, if not, the troops are withdrawn”.
“If you wait for the House to convene, debate and pass a resolution every time a crisis breaks out, no country would survive. In global security practice, action usually comes first, followed by formal communication. When Obama authorised the operation against Osama bin Laden, Americans heard about it only after the mission had been completed,” he added.
When asked why the government appears slower in responding to internal security issues compared to the rapid intervention in the Republic of Benin, Alabi said “bandits and Boko Haram fighters operate inside forests and ungoverned spaces, tracking them is far more difficult”.
Speaking on the surge in coups across West Africa, the former legislator said the trend reflects the anger and desperation felt by citizens who are dealing with economic hardship and shattered expectations.
He warned that military governments have historically worsened poverty and inequality.
“These coups are a product of failed hopes, young people believe the military will just walk in today and reduce a bag of rice from 60,000 to 10,000 naira. They didn’t live through the Abacha era, so they romanticise military rule.
“A civilian President can be changed after four years, but bad military ruler gives you no such hope. People forget this too quickly.”
Meanwhile, he argued that voters share part of the blame saying, “We complain about leaders but followers also shape the behaviour of leaders. When you collect money to vote, you have sold your right to demand accountability, politics becomes a transaction, and governance suffers.”