Benin Republic: Tinubu Does Not Need Approval Before He Deploys Troops – Ex-Lawmaker

A former federal lawmaker and political scholar, Mojeed Alabi, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to deploy Nigerian military assets to the Benin Republic.

He stated that the action falls within the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

Alabi made these remarks on Tuesday, while featuring on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu.

He argued that no provision in the Constitution prevents the Commander-in-Chief from taking urgent military action during a security emergency.

He said, “What people are quoting is not what the Constitution says; the President does not need approval before he deploys troops. What the Constitution says is that he cannot keep the military on foreign soil for more than seven days without approaching the National Assembly. There is a clear difference.”

He insisted that urgent security situations rarely allow leaders the luxury of legislative consultations.

“The next lawful step is for the President to notify the national assembly and if ratified by the lawmakers, the operation continues, if not, the troops are withdrawn.

“If you wait for the House to convene, debate and pass a resolution every time a crisis breaks out, no country would survive. In global security practice, action usually comes first, followed by formal communication. When Obama authorised the operation against Osama bin Laden, Americans heard about it only after the mission had been completed,” he said.

When asked why the government appears slower in responding to internal security issues compared to the rapid intervention in the Republic of Benin, Alabi said “bandits and Boko Haram fighters operate inside forests and ungoverned spaces, tracking them is far more difficult”.