Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has cautioned that rising citizen dissatisfaction and shrinking political freedoms across West Africa pose a serious threat to long-term stability. He said many people are increasingly unhappy with current governance and policies.
Speaking on Channels TV, Falana stressed that Nigeria must urgently address the root causes of political unrest if it hopes to maintain stability and provide leadership in the region. According to him, meaningful stability requires tackling the economic crisis, widespread poverty, illiteracy, and persistent insecurity.
Falana criticised the shrinking civic space, warning that prosecuting citizens for expressing their opinions weakens democracy. He insisted that freedom of expression must be protected and that dissent should not be criminalised.
He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to open the political space by allowing more ideological parties to register, noting that restricting participation fuels frustration and instability.
Falana argued that Nigeria cannot aspire to export democracy while moving toward a one-party system at home. To prevent coups, he said, the country must uphold political pluralism and avoid suppressing opposition voices. He added that crackdowns on political leaders—such as jailing, exiling, or harming them—create conditions ripe for instability.
Referencing the recent failed coup attempt in the Benin Republic, Falana said Nigeria must provide responsible leadership that strengthens democracy across West Africa. The attempted takeover, led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, was quickly suppressed by Nigerian troops and ECOWAS forces, with several arrests made and multiple casualties reported.
The coup plotters claimed they acted due to worsening security, issues surrounding military promotions, and restrictions linked to the 2026 election. The African Union, United Nations, European Union, and ECOWAS all condemned the attempt.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to Benin following the incident.
