Failed Coup In Benin Republic A Wake-Up Call For Tinubu – Yoruba Union Urges Immediate Action On Nigeria’s Crisis

Ikeja, Lagos State– The failed coup attempt in the Republic of Benin should serve as a wake-up call to President Bola Tinubu to take the plight of Nigerians seriously, the Yoruba Union Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá has said.

In a statement released on Sunday by the group’s Convener, Olusola Badero, through its Home Director, Princess Balogun, the Union expressed deep concern over the growing disillusionment of Africans with political leaders who they say siphon public funds and push citizens into abject poverty.

The Union noted that for decades, Nigerians and other Africans have endured pain, suffering, and deprivation while receiving little or no benefit from democratic governance.

According to the group, this prolonged neglect has often made citizens in many West African countries more accepting of military interventions as a solution to political failures.

“Democracy is meant to guarantee transparency, accountability, and protection of citizens’ rights. But when political leaders manipulate state institutions like the police and the Department of State Services to suppress dissent, arrest citizens, and silence calls for good governance, people naturally feel betrayed and unsafe,” the statement read.

The Yoruba Union warned that the Nigerian government must act quickly to prevent a situation similar to that witnessed in neighboring countries.

It urged President Tinubu to urgently address insecurity, the rising dropout rates among school children, and the reversal of pro-people policies that have left millions of Nigerians vulnerable.

The group stressed that while they do not advocate for military takeovers, the ongoing injustices in Nigeria—including poor healthcare, decayed public infrastructure, and widening social inequalities—could provoke public frustration and support for undemocratic alternatives if left unchecked.

“Insecurity has reached alarming levels across the country, yet the government continues to negotiate with terrorists while ordinary citizens live in fear. Hospitals are dilapidated, lacking essential equipment and facilities, forcing patients to suffer while politicians travel abroad for first-class medical treatment at taxpayers’ expense,” Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá said.

The Yoruba Union furthercriticised the leadership of both former President Muhammadu Buhari and current President Tinubu, saying their tenure has worsened Nigeria’s socio-economic conditions.

“What happened in Benin Republic should be a wake-up call to all Nigerian politicians. Ignoring the needs of citizens and continuing to entrench poverty and hardship could, God forbid, push people to support extreme measures if the government fails to fulfill its constitutional obligations,” the Union warned.

The group called on the Nigerian government to take immediate steps to restore trust, ensure accountability, and implement policies that protect citizens’ rights and improve their living conditions, emphasising that the alternative could be catastrophic for Nigeria’s democratic experiment.

“Nigerians must not wait for crises to escalate into violence or unrest,” the union warned. “Leaders must act now to prevent the deepening of poverty, frustration, and potential unrest that could destabilize the nation.”

“The failed coup is a mirror reflecting the frustrations of Africans across the continent, who are increasingly rejecting leaders that enrich themselves while leaving citizens to endure poverty and hardship.”