The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has thrown its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to deploy military assets to quell the attempted coup in the Benin Republic, describing the move as a necessary step to safeguard Nigeria’s national security.
In a statement issued yesterday, NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, warned that Nigeria would have grappled with severe security repercussions had the insurrection in the neighbouring country succeeded.
He said militants and other destabilising elements operating across the Sahel could have exploited the situation to further undermine the stability of Benin and create spillover threats along Nigeria’s borders.
“Apart from admirably acting in support of democracy in the subregion, the President acted in the best interest of our country and West Africa with the intervention.
With the Sahel in disarray and dire security conditions, and a significant portion of Benin, especially the W-forest, already infested by the militants, a successful coup would have had devastating effects on our own country due to our proximity to Benin Republic which shares border with many of our states,” the statement said.
The Forum commended the President and the Nigerian military for responding swiftly to the request for intervention, noting that the prompt action helped restore constitutional order in Benin.
“It is our position that democracy, whatever its challenges, remains the best form of government for regional peace, stability, and development,” the Forum said.
“Subsuing the coup on the invitation of Benin Republic is a big plus for the collective security efforts by ECOWAS in the region and for Nigeria in particular.
For instance, security threats on Porto Novo, Cotonou, or Parakou constitute grave security risk to Nigeria, and the President’s firm action is an effective check to this.”