…says the recent attempted coup in the Republic of Benin underscored the critical role President Tinubu plays in safeguarding democracy across West Africa.
Abuja, Nigeria — The iNews Times, The Presidency has commended Nigeria’s swift and firm response to the attempted coup in the Republic of Benin, describing it as clear evidence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership in defending peace, democracy, and constitutional order across West Africa.
The development follows a brief mutiny on Sunday, when soldiers under the self-styled “Military Committee for Refoundation,” led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, seized the state television station in Cotonou and announced the overthrow of President Patrice Talon’s government. Loyalist forces, however, quickly regained control and foiled the attempt.
Reacting in a statement released via X on Monday, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, said Nigeria’s posture under Tinubu helped shape the regional response and reinforced ECOWAS’ zero-tolerance position on unconstitutional power grabs.
According to Olusegun, “The recent attempted coup in the Republic of Benin once again underscored the critical role President Bola Ahmed Tinubu plays in safeguarding democracy and stability across West Africa. As chaos briefly unfolded in Cotonou on December 7, 2025, Nigeria, under President Bola Tinubu’s direction, moved swiftly and decisively, demonstrating firm commitment to constitutional order in the sub-region.”
He added that while Benin’s loyal forces rapidly contained the mutiny, Nigeria’s prompt and unequivocal condemnation sent a strong message that unlawful takeovers would not be tolerated.
Olusegun further noted that Tinubu’s stance aligned seamlessly with ECOWAS’ firm response, highlighting the President’s insistence that the era of military coups in West Africa must come to an end through collective regional action.
Although he described the attempted coup as a reminder of the fragility of democratic transitions across the region, he stressed that Tinubu’s actions exemplified strong, principled leadership. “President Tinubu’s rapid, coherent, and resolute response reinforced Nigeria’s traditional role as the anchor of West African stability,” he said.
“As Benin prepares for its 2026 transition and the region continues to confront recurring military interventions, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering defence of democracy stands out as a stabilising force, guiding West Africa toward a future where constitutional order is non-negotiable,” Olusegun added.
