Political Insecurity: Tinubu Role in Benin Counter Coup, Fate of Nigerians

Political Insecurity, Tinubu Role in Benin Counter Coup, Fate of Nigerians. The swift and decisive action taken by President Bola Tinubu’s administration in coordinating a robust response to counter the recent coup attempt in neighboring Benin Republic has drawn significant attention. Assuming the role of the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, President Tinubu spearheaded a multinational effort, including the dispatch of Nigerian military assets and personnel, to stabilize the situation and protect democratic governance in the sub-region. This prompt engagement affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the ECOWAS protocol against unconstitutional changes of government.

While the protection of democracy and stability within ECOWAS member states is undeniably crucial, this rapid foreign intervention has, perhaps inevitably, brought Nigeria’s own protracted domestic security challenges into sharp relief.

The Dichotomy of Response: Foreign Aid vs. Domestic Crisis

The contrast between the speed of the Benin intervention and the perceived slow progress in addressing Nigeria’s multifaceted insecurity is stark. Nigeria continues to grapple with a wide array of internal threats, including banditry, kidnapping for ransom, separatist violence, farmer-herder conflicts, and the enduring Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgency in the Northeast.

The sheer scale and persistence of these crises affect millions of Nigerians daily, disrupting economic activities, forcing mass displacements, and eroding public trust in the state’s capacity to protect its citizens. The efficiency and commitment demonstrated in Benin have led many to question why the same urgency and political will cannot be universally applied to secure Nigerian communities.

Echoes of the Past: Buhari’s Regional Spending

This is not the first time a Nigerian administration has prioritized regional security concerns while domestic insecurity raged. During the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the government faced intense public backlash over its generous financial and military support to neighboring countries, often in the form of security vehicles and equipment.

Critics argued then, as they do now, that such resources could have been better deployed to equip Nigeria’s underfunded and overstretched security agencies fighting internal terrorists and bandits. This pattern of investing heavily in the security of neighboring states, even as local communities remain vulnerable, fuels the narrative that Nigerian political elites sometimes value foreign policy posturing over the immediate safety of their own populace.

The Politicization of Insecurity

The problem of insecurity in Nigeria has arguably been heavily politicized in recent years. Security became a central pillar of political campaigns, with aspirants promising definitive solutions within short, unrealistic timelines—such as the first six months in office. Once in power, however, the rhetoric often fails to translate into tangible long-term strategies.

The politicization manifests in several ways: blaming previous administrations, selectively reporting casualty figures, and focusing on high-profile incidents rather than systemic reforms. This perpetual cycle of promises and disappointments has led to deep public cynicism, suggesting that insecurity has become a convenient political tool rather than a genuine national emergency demanding non-partisan, comprehensive action.

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The Need for Equivalent Domestic Action

It is important to emphasize that protecting the integrity of ECOWAS states is vital for Nigeria’s own long-term stability and economic health. Nigeria, as a regional leader, must act responsibly. However, the request from the public is simple: the swift, decisive, and fully resourced response deployed for the Benin counter-coup must be mirrored, if not exceeded, in resolving Nigeria’s internal security crisis.

The same resources, the same political unity, and the same sense of immediate threat that motivated the intervention abroad must be galvanized to protect Nigerians at home.

In conclusion, the discourse around security has undergone a noticeable shift in Nigeria’s political sphere.

“Propaganda In Nigeria Politics has shifted from I will build roads, water, light, schools to I will solve Insecurity problems within first six months in office and in the end nothing is done.”

Reflecting on the government’s capability and commitment, the words of former President Olusegun Obasanjo often resonate:

“If Insecurity lasts more than 48hours in a state, it is certain that the government is involved.”

The ultimate measure of President Tinubu’s administration will be its ability to translate its foreign policy success into meaningful, lasting peace for the Nigerian people.