My people, things dey hot for Benin! For December 7, some soldiers wey call demself the “Military Committee for Refoundation” waka enter state TV, claim say dem don remove President Patrice Talon from office. Dem dey vex, no be small!
Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri dey lead this coup attempt, but just as dem dey celebrate, the wahala don turn as Federal forces counter-attack fast. Talon no waste time, him later show face for TV, calm everybody down and announce say dem don arrest 14 suspects, including 12 soldiers. Abeg, how dem wan run coup without proper planning?
Observers sabi say the attempted coup no be surprise at all. Na years of bad political vibes don dey brew for the country. Talon don dey systematically scatter democracy since e enter office for 2016. From court-packing to banning opposition parties, he don waka plenty road wey no dey good for free speech and governance.
Baba wey start as hope for democracy turn to strongman wey dey fear for him power. No be say Benin no sabi how to do election; dem fit even do elections but na wah for integrity! As we speak, many opposition figures dey prison, some don even face heavy jail terms wey no sweet person.
Even as the tension dey rise, many citizens still dey hold on to their democracy. Na wetin we see for election numbers wey drop since Talon take control. Voter turnout fall from 67% to just 27% for 2019 election when all the opposition no fit stand for ballot. That one no be democracy again o!
Now wetin we go do? ECOWAS don set their eyes on the situation as warplanes from Nigeria don dey bomb rebel positions to maintain order. This time, dem no wan allow another coup take hold like wetin don happen for Mali and Burkina Faso. E be like say dem don learn from their past mistakes.
Dey always say no be every soldier fit make sense for governance, and for Benin, the people no dey support military takeover. E be like say the rebels misjudge the citizens’ appetite for action. Who you go follow: military wey wan take over or the civil governance wey get wahala?
This whole scenario don shine light on the issue wey dey vexing the people: Talon don turn Benin from a beacon of democracy to another episode of political tussle! As dem dey try fix wetin don spoil, the window for reform still dey open; but e go take plenty work.
As we dey watch wetin go happen next, people don dey call for release of political prisoners and reform of electoral laws. No be small matter wey dey ground for Benin o! Make we dey follow the gist, as e dey unfold.
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