A former Lagos governorship candidate and political commentator, Babatunde Gbadamosi, has sharply criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to deploy Nigerian military assets to the Benin Republic during the recent failed coup attempt, warning that the move could set a troubling precedent for foreign interference in Nigeria’s own affairs.
Gbadamosi expressed his concerns in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, shortly after Nigeria confirmed the deployment of fighter jets and ground troops to support President Patrice Talon following the 7 December 2025 coup attempt in Cotonou.
Gbadamosi Questions Policy Consistency
In his post, Gbadamosi posed a pointed question to the Nigerian government, writing: “By rushing to bomb your smaller neighbour over their internal matter, do you not realise that you have unwittingly made it legal for a bigger nation to likewise bomb you for matters internal to you?”
He argued that although the Beninese government formally requested Nigeria’s military assistance, the intervention contradicts Nigeria’s longstanding stance on guarding its own sovereignty against external involvement.
According to him, this inconsistency may weaken Nigeria’s diplomatic position and expose the country to similar interventions from more powerful states.
Nigerians React as Debate Widens
The post has sparked wide reactions online, generating thousands of engagements and prompting broader conversations about regional security and military engagement within West Africa.
Many Nigerians questioned the timing of the operation, noting persistent domestic security issues such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, ISIS, and several other extremist groups that remain active in different parts of the North-East.
Experts Warn of Sovereignty Risks
Security analysts say the debate reflects the complex balance Nigeria must strike between supporting regional stability and protecting its national sovereignty.
They argue that while assisting neighbouring states is important for collective security, it must not undermine Nigeria’s own long-term strategic interests.