By Mohammed Danlami
The Senate has unanimously approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin to support peacekeeping efforts following last Sunday’s attempted coup in the country.
The resolution followed the Senate’s consideration of the President’s request conveyed in a letter read by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio who emphasized the urgency of maintaining stability in the West African region during plenary on Tuesday.
President Tinubu’s letter seeking legislative approval for the deployment was committed to the Committee of the Whole to fast track the process of approval.
The Senators voted unanimously in favour of the resolution, giving full legislative backing for the troop deployment as part of a regional intervention to sustain democratic governance in Benin.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio described the decision as a critical step towards protecting not only Nigeria’s neighbors but also regional peace.
He stressed that instability in any ECOWAS member state threatens the broader security of the entire region.
According to Akpabio, the President’s request was not subjected to any debate by the legislators because he could see from his vintage position that all members were in favour of it.
According to the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), Section 5 of the Constitution generally requires Senate approval before deploying troops outside Nigeria, but Subsection 5 explicitly permits emergency deployment where national security is threatened.
“What we have done today is to respond faithfully to Section 5, Subsection 5 of the Constitution,” Bamidele said. “The President requested our consent for what was already done in Benin Republic, and the Senate acted within the time allowed by law.” He noted that the Senate was constitutionally given 14 days to consider the request but acted swiftly in the national interest.
“Our speed reflects the collective will of well-meaning Nigerians who believe democracy must be protected in Africa, especially in West Africa,” he added.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South) talked of Nigeria’s Hegemonic Responsibility. He placed Nigeria’s action within a broader global and historical context, arguing that Nigeria, as the leading power in West Africa, has both a moral and strategic duty to prevent democratic collapse in neighbouring states.
Citing international precedents, Ibrahim noted that the United States had undertaken hundreds of military interventions globally to protect its interests and values.
“If the global hegemonic power can intervene repeatedly to protect democracy and strategic stability, Nigeria, as the hegemonic leader of West Africa, cannot stand idle when democracy is under threat at its doorstep,” he said.
Ibrahim stressed that instability in Benin Republic would directly affect Nigeria’s security, economy, and border communities, making proactive intervention unavoidable.
Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) stated of “Unity Over Politics, Consensus Over Debate” as the former Bayelsa State Governor also spoke in support of the President, while clarifying procedural misunderstandings during the session.
Dickson explained that the President acted correctly by first consulting the National Defence Council and then formally communicating the deployment to the National Assembly.
“The President did the right thing by exercising his constitutional powers to respond to an emergency. In matters of national security, there should be no politics and no partisanship.”
He identified three areas where national unity must prevail: national security, the economy, and the defence of democratic principles.
However, Dickson also used the opportunity to issue a broader warning, noting that democratic governments were collapsing across West Africa due to governance failures.
“Nigeria must lead not only with military power but also by encouraging constitutional governance and legitimacy across the sub-region,” he said, calling on West African leaders to address undemocratic practices that alienate citizens and weaken democratic institutions.
