Television Nigerian

The ECOWAS Parliament has expressed gratitude and supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s quick action to bring democracy back to the Benin Republic.

While announcing the resolution of the regional bloc’s parliament, Barau Jibrin, the Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Deputy President of Nigeria’s Senate, stated that Nigeria acted in the best interests of peace and stability in West Africa.

According to reports, ECOWAS had earlier proclaimed a state of emergency throughout West Africa.

Omar Touray, the president of the ECOWAS Commission, made the statement on December 9, 2025, during the 55th ministerial session of the Mediation and Security Council in Abuja.

Touray stressed that these incidents highlight the critical need for more funding for community security as well as in-depth consideration of the subregion’s democratic future.

According to Touray, the events underscore the “urgent need to invest in the security of our community and the imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy.”

The proclamation comes after increased unrest, which included a failed coup attempt in Benin a few days prior.

Elections are a “major trigger of instability” in the area, according to Touray.

“We have continued to witness political practices that violate these principles despite our community’s best efforts to establish constitutional convergence principles and to have a support program for elections in our region to safeguard our democratic credentials and stability,” he stated.

“As we continue to witness the devastating impact of terrorist groups along our borders with them, we also need to negotiate with our neighbors, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), particularly the terms of our security cooperation,” he continued.

During her chieftaincy installation as “Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua” in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Sunday, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu made a remark intended at Patience, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan. This comment has drawn criticism.

During her acceptance speech, Mrs. Tinubu acknowledged dignitaries and spoke to the former First Lady, who was seated among the guests, in a widely shared video on social media.

Oluremi Tinubu, dressed in white ceremonial garb, interrupted her welcome to speak directly to Mrs. Jonathan. This action swiftly caused Nigerians on X (previously Twitter) to express disgust.

“Your Eminence, the Sultan and all the other Obas,” the First Lady stated in the widely shared video. I’m grateful, Mama P. Will you not smile? I’m greeting you, Mama P. I sincerely appreciate you being there.

“But I said I wanted to greet our royal fathers who have come to honour Ooni and, by extension, me; everybody said I should just leave protocols,” she remarked, thanking the traditional elders as she wrapped up her greetings. Now the Oloris can take a seat. I express my gratitude to the royal fathers who traveled great distances, and even a representative from my mother’s side is present. Thank you, everyone. I am delighted and honored that there aren’t many lengthy speeches today.
Netizens viewed the exchange as inappropriately casual or as lighthearted banter that wasn’t appropriate for the installation ceremony’s solemnity.

“Her status may appear to have changed, but her innate mannerism remains as uncouth and as classless as it has always been,” responded a user on X going by the name Tochukwu.

Wendu, another member on X, commented, “This woman is uncouth.” She wouldn’t normally qualify as an elite, but based on the characters in APC, she is regrettably among the more “refined.”

“Oh, I’m not disappointed,” he added. Even before she was appointed first lady, she was like this. Thus, it is not shocking. The fact that she hasn’t been in the public eye for much of this period is more dramatic. Nigeria has a wealthy population but few elites. Nothing sets them apart from the typical Nigerian other than their wealth.

One Tobi wrote on Facebook, “Having this family as a figure is the worst thing to ever happen to this nation.”

“You called the King of your mother’s Nation as the representative?” commented a user going by the handle Mesiri. neglected to give him the customary salute? Disgraceful.

“I wonder what about her did the Redeemed church find appealing enough to choose her as a pastor. Is it merely her wealth or her spiritual life? Another X user, Robustlife, declared, “I am starting to look at some churches differently.”

Conversely, a member on X who went by Kelez remarked, “We must not make issues out of nothing because she’s Tinubu.” The way it came out may be crass, but the goal should be the most essential thing and not necessarily an insult, in my opinion. This is just a nice, informal conversation to let Mama Peace relax or grin.+

According to Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Advisor on Information and Strategy, Nigeria’s military action in the Benin Republic is evidence of the President’s unwavering commitment to upholding democracy and bolstering national security.

During a monitored interview on Arise Television on Monday, Onanuga made the claim.

He claimed that Nigeria’s reaction to the attempted coup in Benin last week was prompt, well-coordinated, and absolutely done at the Beninese government’s request.

“What transpired today and on Sunday just demonstrated this government’s dedication to defending democracy, not only in Nigeria but also among our neighbors.

“And you have also seen that our security personnel, the armed forces, the air force, and the ground troops are up to the task of helping to protect this country,” he remarked, referring to the release of the Papiri children.

He claims that when the coup attempt started, President Patrice Talon specifically asked Nigeria for assistance.

“The Benin government, led by President Talon, sent Nigeria two notifications in short succession. The first was that Nigeria needed to dispatch fighter jets to assist them in overthrowing the coup plotters. They then asked for ground forces once more, he added.

The presidential aide added that Tinubu’s long-standing pledge to protect democratic government throughout West Africa and ECOWAS regulations were both in line with the intervention.

In a letter to the Senate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu asked for approval to send Nigerian troops to the Benin Republic.

According to reports, Senate President Godswill Akpabio revealed this in a letter during plenary on Tuesday.

According to Tinubu, the deployment is for a peace mission in reaction to Benin’s ongoing coup attempt.

The President clarified that the deployment was made in response to President Patrice Talon’s request for assistance in the wake of the most recent failed coup attempt.

The deployment complies with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc’s protocol.

In consultation with the Nigeria Defence Council, Tinubu also mentioned section 30 sub-5 of the country’s constitution.

The request was forwarded by the Senate to the committee of the whole for prompt consideration.

Nigeria had already intervened by air after the Benin Republic’s unlawful violation.
As previously reported, a source in the 10th Senate disclosed that before sending forces to engage in battle in another nation, President Tinubu must confer with parliamentarians for approval for a minimum of 14 days.

The source, who talked with Vanguard, revealed this in response to assertions made in some quarters that the President had to request Senate approval 24 hours before to or following the deployment of soldiers.

Nigeria’s reaction to the attempted coup, according to the presidency, was an example of President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in advancing peace and constitutional order throughout West Africa.

After some soldiers working under the “Military Committee for Refoundation,” under the command of Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, momentarily took control of the state television station in Cotonou on Sunday and declared the overthrow of President Patrice Talon’s administration, troops were sent to Benin.

However, President Tinubu’s use of fighter jets and troops stationed in the neighboring nation prevented the coup.

Section 5(5) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which deals with the President’s authority to send armed forces outside of Nigeria for limited combat duty due to impending national security threats, was cited by the source to explain the circumstances that led to Tinubu’s intervention in the Benin coup. This clause requires Senate approval within 14 days of actual combat, with the Senate having seven days to approve or deny, ensuring executive power balance with legislative oversight.

The source, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed that the Constitution highlights checks and balances on military deployment by emphasizing that the President may act after consulting with the National Defense Council but must promptly notify the Senate for ratification.

In response to the much-discussed incident involving Governor Ademola Adeleke at the Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi’s coronation anniversary in Ile-Ife, Dayo Fashola, an assistant to former Osun State governor Adegboyega Oyetola, has defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.

Fashola claims that the conversation between Tinubu and Adeleke was never meant to be derogatory, but rather to make sure the event closed on schedule so participants could safely return home.

Speaking on her verified Facebook account, Fashola mentioned that many of the event’s dignitaries, including more than 29 wives of different state governors, had to return, many of them from as far north as the North.

She said that Tinubu’s request for promptness was reasonable and essential given the limited time and deteriorating visibility in the evening.

According to Fashola, the First Lady’s seeming irritation was caused by her worries over the visitors’ safety and orderly departure.

“The exchange between Governor Adeleke and Her Excellency, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, CON was meant to ensure a judicious use of time, not to disparage the Governor,” she wrote.

Concern at the early departure of the more than 29 wives of different state governors who were present, along with other dignitaries, who were all waiting for the event to conclude so they could be transported back to their respective states, was the apparent cause of Her Excellency’s distress. Observe that a large number of the visitors were from the far north.

She had to tell the Governor once again to be time-conscious because time was running out and visibility was getting worse as night fell. It wasn’t as serious as people are making it out to be; it was humorous.

Since many of her important visitors had to go back to their destinations on time, even Her Excellency yearned for their indulgence to forego formality while giving her own address.

“Remembering that nighttime helicopter visibility is almost nonexistent. Once again, congratulations to our Yeye Asiwaju of the entire Oodua land and territories.”

Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defense, has accused his detractors of trying to utilize delicate security matters for publicity.

In a statement issued by his media assistant, Ibrahim Dosara, the Minister bemoaned the fact that he is the target of deliberate and politically motivated attacks meant to harm his reputation.

He claimed that the government’s security policies are endangering the political aspirations of those who are funding the attacks in 2027.

He claimed that the attacks are being carried out by politicians who want to become relevant and divert him from his work.

“Public service requires courage, consistency, and a commitment to truth,” he said.

“It’s nothing more than desperate political propaganda to try to drag my name into irrelevant events.”

Matawalle clarified that long before he was elected governor of Zamfara, banditry was already a serious problem.

“Banditry was not a problem that was invented under my watch,” he declared. Over decades, it had expanded.

He claimed that his administration had improved intelligence, formed high-level committees, implemented organized security measures, and convicted criminals.

Additionally, he stated that disarmament programs were carried out with military assistance and that compromised traditional rulers were eliminated.

During his tenure as governor, the minister reported that 11 Chinese nationals engaged in illicit mining were deported and thousands of kidnapped victims were freed. He claimed that anyone attempting to falsify this record is using the suffering of innocent people for political purposes.

Matawalle added that these precautions had prevented significant security problems in Zamfara for more than a year.

“I received harassment and intimidation,” he said, adding that he encountered harassment while working on the rescue of abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi. But I resisted giving in to pressure. Humanity is paramount.

He maintained that those criticizing him are driven by the 2027 political contest and are terrified of the current defense reforms.

“My loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains total,” he declared, reiterating his allegiance to the president. Propaganda won’t affect his choices in any way.

Iba Gani Adams, Yorubaland’s Aare Ona Kakanfo, has criticized the nation’s growing insecurity and the incursion of criminals into Yorubaland.

Yesterday, Gani Adams gave a speech at a Security Stakeholders’ Summit that included more than thirty Yoruba interest organizations and was themed “Towards a United Front Against Insecurity in Yorubaland.”

He claimed that the summit provided a forum for utilizing common resources, expertise, and determination to create safer communities and guarantee long-term security for every Yorubaland inhabitant.

“These bloodthirsty maniacs are already moving into some parts of Yorubaland, and kidnapping for ransom is already creating fear throughout the country,” he declared. Every effort must be made to prevent them. We are here today because of this. The phrase “We are on top of the situation” should not be used by our governors. The Yoruba people want to see action taken to make insecurity a thing of the past.

“I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again for future generations. The time has come for us to reorganize this nation. Abuja should not put pressure on all 36 states if we are truly practicing democracy as it should be. We have to reorganize right away.

“The federal government must also give the states more authority. The people are closer to governors. They are aware of their people’s needs. Governors should be in charge of the other crucial issues on the Constitution’s Exclusive List, except from currency, customs, defense, foreign affairs, and a few other areas.

Gani Adams made the following statement regarding restructuring: “If we restructure, some states in the Southwest can become our California, and Nigeria will be better for it.” Strange elements are flooding the nation every day, some of which are already in the South-West forests, as a result of our refusal to reorganize the nation and the political system. They will soon overrun our cities if precautions are not taken. Before taking the appropriate action, our president and governors ought not to have waited for Donald Trump’s warning.

According to him, security risks will be minimized by state policing.

It goes without saying that state police will eliminate security risks and protect Nigerians wherever they may be in the nation. In the end, this will propel and accelerate economic progress. The fact that these terrorists have slain traditional leaders in the states of Kwara, Ekiti, and Ondo is an insult, isn’t it?

“Any police officer moved from Zamfara to Lagos, Enugu to Rivers, or Sokoto to Ogun won’t be more familiar with the negative aspects of these states than the locals. He stated that state police should be established to support the Nigeria Police Force’s (NPF) continued efforts to protect Nigerians’ lives and property.

Mr. Abiodun Ramon Oseni, a former US police officer and US Army veteran who specializes in international security at the American Military University, Prof. Anthony Kila, a professor of strategy and development, economics, and security, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Barr. Joki Lasisi (Retd.) were among the speakers at the conference.

The Federal Government has acknowledged that it is investigating the reasons for the detention of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft in Burkina Faso following its forced landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on Monday.

According to reports, the aircraft breached the nation’s airspace.

The administration is keeping an eye on the situation, according to Kimiebi Ebienfa, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ebienfa informed reporters, “We are keeping an eye on the situation and will release a statement when we have sufficient information.”

There were eleven persons on board the Nigerian Air Force plane: nine troops and two staff members. They were in Burkinabe airspace when they had to make an emergency landing.

Authorities in Burkina Faso “emphasized the absence of authorization to fly over the territory of Burkina Faso for this military device” in a statement.