The African Democratic Congress has criticized the Federal Government for responding more swiftly to security threats in neighbouring countries than to the violence plaguing communities within Nigeria.
The party praised the prompt intervention following the attempted coup in the Benin Republic but argued that the same urgency is lacking in efforts to combat domestic insecurity.
In a statement posted on Monday via his verified X account, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said Nigeria’s decisive action in Benin “stands in sharp contrast” to the government’s handling of banditry, terrorism and violent crime across the country.
“We commend the Federal Government for acting promptly to defend constitutional order in our neighbourhood,” Abdullahi said.
“However, the government must now take the necessary steps to align this intervention with the legal provisions of our Constitution.”
He stressed that although the President’s move may have been expedient, it must still be subjected to National Assembly ratification, as required for any deployment of security forces outside Nigeria.
The party questioned what it described as inconsistencies in Nigeria’s foreign policy, pointing to the slower response during the Guinea-Bissau crisis as a glaring contrast.
“Why were we not as swift in responding to the crisis in Guinea-Bissau, even when a former Nigerian President was trapped there?” the statement asked. “What changed? What determines when Nigeria acts firmly and when it delays?”
The ADC warned of a “growing democratic reversal” in West Africa, adding that strong governance is the most effective defence against coups.
“If Nigeria could respond decisively to threats across our borders, why has our government demonstrated such outrageous incompetence in dealing with domestic insecurity?” Abdullahi queried. “A government that can act swiftly abroad must also act decisively at home.”
He concluded that safeguarding democracy begins with protecting citizens’ lives and livelihoods.
“The best safeguard against military adventurism is for elected governments to make democracy meaningful to the people by improving their lives and allowing opposition to thrive,” he said.
