Activist Aisha Yesufu has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the recent deployment of Nigerian military personnel to the Republic of Benin, describing the action as a breach of constitutional provisions and a troubling sign of executive overreach.
In a strongly worded statement shared via her X handle on Tuesday, Yesufu said the decision violated Section 5(4)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates prior approval from the Senate before Nigerian troops can be deployed outside the country. She argued that bypassing this requirement undermines the rule of law and erodes the safeguards intended to prevent unilateral governance.
Yesufu linked the development to what she described as a pattern of constitutional disregard, citing the controversial declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State as an earlier example. According to her, these actions point to a worrying trend in which the executive branch increasingly operates without effective checks from the legislature or the judiciary.
She warned that such unilateral decisions could weaken Nigeria’s democratic framework, noting that the National Assembly’s silence or inaction would further embolden executive dominance. “Nigeria is not a personal fiefdom. Our armed forces are not Tinubu’s private militia to dispatch on whims,” she wrote, adding that the deployment poses risks to national sovereignty and exposes troops to avoidable danger.
The activist further cautioned that unchecked executive power could lead to misuse of the military both abroad and at home, potentially allowing the government to suppress dissent without oversight. She argued that troop deployment without legislative approval may drag Nigeria into conflicts lacking public mandate, while critical domestic security challenges remain unresolved.
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Yesufu emphasised that the issue extends beyond the Benin Republic mission, framing it as a test of how far the presidency can stretch its authority. “By bypassing the people’s representatives, Tinubu signals that the rule of law is optional for those in power,” she said.
She called on the National Assembly to assert its constitutional role and prevent what she described as a dangerous slide toward authoritarian rule. “Democracy must be defended both abroad and at home. Nigeria must be protected from Tinubu’s recklessness wrapped in the cloak of heroism,” she concluded.
The presidency has yet to publicly respond to her comments.