The approval of the request of President Bola Tinubu by the Nigerian Senate to deploy the country’s military forces to Benin Republic has received criticism and concern by Nigerians.
The approval follows the earlier consideration of the request by the Senate Committee of the Whole, where the lawmakers unanimously backed the decision of the federal government to deploy troops to the Benin Republic to restore peace and stability following last weekend’s attempted coup in the West African nation.
The decision of the lawmakers was approved during plenary on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” Akpabio declared while announcing the decision of the Senate.
The Senate’s consent letter will be transmitted to President Tinubu immediately.
It would be recalled that President Tinubu had earlier written to the Senate requesting consent for the deployment of Nigerian troops to Benin Republic.
This was disclosed on Tuesday in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary.
Tinubu stated that the deployment is for a peace mission in response to the ongoing attempted coup in Benin.
The President explained that the deployment is to provide support in the country as requested by President Patrice Talon, following the recent failed coup attempt. He also said it was in line with the protocol of ECOWAS.
However, Nigerians have reacted to the decision of sending the Military in response to the coup attempt when the country’s security issues still linger.
Some of the comments include: ‘Una never solve Naija own finish oh’.
On X, one @NewbirthX commented that ‘Nigerian Senate approved the invasion of another sovereign country in the year 2025, same Nigeria that can’t tame Islamic jihadist ravaging the North of the country. Classic tale of misplaced priorities’
Can the country afford to send its military to Benin Republic at this time? Are we not putting out the fire in another country while ours remain vulnerable?
