Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has raised alarm over the growing wave of military takeovers in West Africa, cautioning that the trend could eventually threaten the very foundation of ECOWAS and civilian governance across the region.
He issued the warning on Tuesday in a post on his verified Twitter account while reacting to the attempted coup in the Republic of Benin.
Amid political tension and reports of soldiers claiming to have removed President Patrice Talon from office, Sani expressed concern that the persistence of coups in West Africa could evolve into a direct challenge to regional institutions. He wrote, “If the military continues to takeover power in West Africa, they could takeover ECOWAS and start suspending nations under civil rule.”
Sani, a long-time critic of military rule, said the recent pattern of coups in countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea-Bissau shows a dangerous weakening of democratic structures that were built over decades. According to him, the situation in Benin further highlights the vulnerability of civilian administrations in the face of growing militarisation.
He argued that ECOWAS, which was established to promote regional stability and defend constitutional order, is now facing its most significant test in recent years. The former lawmaker warned that if military juntas begin to outnumber democratic governments within the bloc, the organisation itself could become compromised or taken over by leaders who came to power through force. View, More,
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