President Bola Tinubu has written to the senate seeking consent for the deployment of Nigerian troops in the Republic of Benin.
The letter was read on the floor of the upper legislative chamber by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday.
“Pursuant to Section 5, Subsection 5, Part 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended,” the letter reads.
“I seek, in further consultation with the National Defence Council, the consent of the senate, for the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin.”
Tinubu said the request followed an appeal from the government of Benin Republic for “the exceptional and immediate provision of air support by the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
He noted that “the government of the Republic of Benin is currently faced with an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and disruption and destabilization of democratic institutions”.
The president said “the situation as reported by the government of Benin requires urgent external intervention”.
“Considering the close ties of brotherhood and friendship which exists between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, as well as the principles of collective security upheld within ECOWAS, it is our duty to provide the support as requested by the government,” he added.
After the letter was read, Akpabio committed same to the committee of the whole “for immediate action”.
On December 7, a group of military officers announced the overthrow of the Benin Republic government.
Hours later, the Benin Republic presidency said the coup had been quashed and that President Patrice Talon was safe.
Nigeria had immediately acceded to Benin Republic’s request for air and ground troops in the neighbouring nation in a bid to keep the mutineers at bay.
