According to a recent interview from 8:09 shared by Arise News, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has strongly criticized the rising trend of military interventions in West Africa, describing them as unnecessary disruptions to democratic progress.
His comments followed the failed coup attempt in Benin Republic led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, who briefly seized a military base and state television before being dislodged.
Onanuga questioned the justification behind the coup attempt, especially at a time when President Patrice Talon is constitutionally set to leave office and a democratic transition is already underway. He argued that soldiers who believe they have solutions to national challenges should pursue those ideas through legitimate democratic means rather than through the barrel of a gun.
“If he believes he can change things in that country, he should have removed his uniform and come to the field and join the politicians,” Onanuga stated.
He explained that the political arena—not the barracks—is the proper space for debating reforms, seeking public support, and vying for leadership. According to him, coups not only undermine national stability but also fail to deliver the progress their perpetrators claim to seek.
Onanuga added that Nigeria’s rapid intervention in support of Benin’s constitutional order reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to defending democracy across the region. He urged West African nations to strengthen their institutions and reject military rule, reminding that history has repeatedly shown that governance through force brings more problems than solutions. View, More,
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