Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has warned that Nigeria cannot effectively lead efforts to curb military takeovers in West Africa without first confronting the internal factors driving instability within the country.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, the renowned human rights lawyer emphasized that socioeconomic and political challenges must be addressed to ensure national and regional stability.
“If Nigeria wants political stability, we must tackle economic crises, reduce poverty, combat illiteracy, and secure lives and property,” Falana stated. He further stressed the need to protect civic freedoms and cautioned against treating dissent as a criminal act.
“The political space must not shrink as it currently has. Freedom of expression is essential. Citizens should not be prosecuted for voicing their opinions about national affairs,” he said.
Falana also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to broaden political participation.
“INEC must open the political space, allowing ideological parties to register and challenge the status quo. At present, the commission has not done enough to foster political pluralism,” he added.
Highlighting the dissatisfaction among citizens with current policies, Falana argued that democratic leaders in Africa often undermine opposition forces, limiting competitive politics.
He noted that Nigeria must avoid practices that weaken pluralism, cautioning that a move toward a one-party state would undercut the country’s credibility in promoting democracy abroad.
“Credible elections require strong opposition. Ruling parties across Africa often render rivals ineffective through direct or indirect restrictions,” he observed.
When asked about the likelihood of future coups, Falana said, “This will not be the last. Political stability cannot exist when opposition leaders are jailed, exiled, or eliminated.”
He cited the recent attempted coup in the Benin Republic, where Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri and his group seized the state television station in Cotonou to announce President Patrice Talon’s removal, as a reminder of regional vulnerabilities. Falana urged Nigeria to demonstrate responsible leadership in stabilizing West Africa.
