The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised the Federal Government for reacting quickly to the attempted coup in the Republic of Benin while failing to show the same seriousness toward rising insecurity within Nigeria.
In a statement released on Monday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said Nigeria’s action in Benin was good, but it also exposed how slow the government has been in dealing with violence and killings at home. Abdullahi explained that the move raised serious concerns about whether the government truly places Nigerian lives first.
According to him, “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomes Nigeria’s swift intervention in the Benin Republic following the announcement of a coup attempt. We commend the Federal Government for acting promptly to defend constitutional order in our neighbourhood.”
But the ADC wondered why the same level of urgency has not been used to handle the growing security challenges affecting communities across Nigeria. The party asked, “If Nigeria could respond decisively to threats across our borders, why has our government demonstrated such outrageous incompetence in dealing with domestic insecurity?”
The party also reminded the government that any deployment of troops or security forces outside the country must follow the constitution, which requires approval from the National Assembly. The ADC warned that ignoring such steps weakens democratic values and reduces accountability.
The statement also pointed out that Nigeria has been inconsistent in its regional security actions. It referred to the slow response to the crisis in Guinea-Bissau, even when a former Nigerian President was reportedly caught in the incident. The ADC questioned, “Why were we not as swift in responding to the crisis in Guinea-Bissau? What determines when Nigeria acts firmly and when it delays?”
The party expressed fear that acting quickly in some countries but hesitating in others may give the impression that foreign powers are influencing Nigeria’s decisions. According to the ADC, this could harm Nigeria’s reputation as a major force in West Africa.
Although the party condemned military takeovers in the region, it insisted that a government cannot claim to defend democracy outside its borders while failing to keep its own people safe. Abdullahi stated, “A government that can act swiftly abroad must also act decisively at home. The defence of democracy does not begin in neighbouring countries; it begins in the protection of Nigerian lives.”
The ADC ended by calling on leaders in the region to make democracy real and useful to their citizens. It noted that, “The best possible safeguard against military adventurism is for elected governments to make democracy meaningful to the people by improving their lives and allowing opposition to thrive,” the party added.