Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has said that Nigeria cannot effectively lead regional efforts against military coups without first addressing the internal conditions that fuel instability at home.
Falana stated this on Tuesday during an interview, as West Africa grapples with yet another wave of military takeovers.
According to the human rights lawyer, Nigeria must urgently confront the socioeconomic and political issues that create unrest.
“If we want political stability in Nigeria, we must address the economic crisis, tackle poverty, combat illiteracy, and curb insecurity,” he said.
Falana also stressed the need to strengthen civic freedoms and warned against criminalising dissent.
“You cannot continue shrinking the political space as we have now. There must be freedom of expression. You cannot be charging people with all manner of offences simply for commenting on national affairs,” he stated.
He further called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow broader political participation.
“INEC must open the political space and register ideological political parties that can challenge the status quo. At the moment, INEC is not prepared to do this,” he added.
Falana argued that many Nigerians are dissatisfied with current policies and noted that democratic leaders across Africa routinely undermine the opposition, thereby weakening political pluralism.
“You cannot be drifting towards a one-party state and still claim to be exporting democracy. Nigeria must put its house in order if it wants to promote pluralism,” he said.
He maintained that credible elections depend on a competitive opposition, observing that ruling parties across the continent often render their rivals “impotent” through overt or covert restrictions.
When asked whether more coups could occur in the region, Falana replied, “It will not be the last. Once you jail, exile, or kill opposition leaders, you cannot have political stability.”
He cited similar patterns in Benin Republic and urged Nigeria to demonstrate genuine leadership in stabilising West Africa.
Falana’s comments come after Sunday’s failed coup attempt in Benin, during which soldiers led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri briefly seized the state television station in Cotonou and announced the removal of President Patrice Talon.
The uprising was quelled within hours by Nigerian troops and the ECOWAS standby force. Authorities confirmed several deaths, the arrest of at least 14 suspects, and said Tigri remains on the run. The plotters reportedly cited grievances over security, military promotions, and restrictions on political freedoms ahead of the 2026 election.
The coup attempt has drawn condemnation from the African Union, United Nations, European Union and ECOWAS.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to Benin Republic.