Former presidential spokesperson and lawyer Kenneth Okonkwo has strongly criticized Nigeria’s deployment of troops to the Republic of Benin, describing the move as illegal, unconstitutional, and reckless.
At Naija Unfiltered podcastby Symfoni, the veteran nollywood actor based his argument on Section 5, Subsection 4 (a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which clearly provides that the President must obtain prior approval of the Senate before deploying members of the Nigerian Armed Forces for combat operations outside the country, except in situations where Nigeria’s national security is under immediate threat. According to him, no such Senate approval was secured before Nigerian troops were sent to Benin, making the deployment unconstitutional.
He argued that the President’s subsequent request to the Senate for approval, after the troops had already been deployed, amounted to an attempt to retroactively legitimise an illegal act, insisting that the constitution does not permit the President to first act unlawfully and then seek legislative cover.
Questioning the justification for the deployment, Okonkwo maintained that Nigeria’s national security was not threatened by events in Benin Republic. He pointed out that military coups had taken place in Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso—countries that share much longer borders with Nigeria—without Nigeria deploying troops to intervene. According to him, Nigeria’s border with Niger Republic alone is more than twice the length of its border with Benin, raising serious questions about why Benin was suddenly considered a national security concern.
Okonkwo warned that Nigeria is placing its soldiers in harm’s way at a time when the country is battling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and widespread insecurity, arguing that deploying troops abroad further depletes already overstretched security resources needed at home.
During the programme, he also accused President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic of suppressing democratic opposition, alleging that opposition figures have been jailed and political parties weakened to the point of creating a de facto one-party state. He argued that history has shown that once opposition parties are wiped out, the military often becomes the only remaining opposition, a situation that has repeatedly led to coups across West Africa.
Extending his warning to Nigeria, Okonkwo cautioned that any attempt to erode multiparty democracy or silence political opposition could have dangerous consequences, stressing that democratic pluralism remains Nigeria’s strongest safeguard against authoritarianism and instability.
He concluded that allowing foreign troop deployment without prior Senate approval sets a dangerous constitutional precedent, undermining legislative oversight and civilian control of the military. With Nigeria facing severe security and economic challenges, Okonkwo insisted that external military engagements must strictly comply with the constitution and be guided solely by clear national interest.
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