Experts Caution African Leaders Against Constitutional and Political Manipulations Encouraging Military Coups

Nigerian-born global affairs analyst, PAUL EJIME, has warned that democracy in Africa is facing existential threat, due to failures by political leaders. PAUL EJIME observed that African leaders, such as President PATRICE TALON of the Republic of Benin, have desecrated democracy, thereby instigating military coups on the continent. EJIME said though President TALON decided not to seek a third term in office, having been in power since 2016, he has manipulated the constitution of his country to stifle the opposition, which is in violation of the ECOWAS Protocol. On the intervention of President BOLA TINUBU in the coup in Benin Republic on Sunday, PAUL EJIME said the Nigerian leader acted more in self-preservation than in defence of democracy. Speaking further in an interview; PAUL EJIME said the time has come for the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to stop talking and start acting to protect democracy, both from military coup mongers and manipulative political leaders. Similarly; popular human rights lawyer, FEMI FALANA, has urged the Nigerian government to make deliberate efforts to strengthen democratic governance in the country. FEMI FALANA also said that to confront the root cause of instability in the West Africa region would require that government take steps to address economic crisis, tackle poverty and illiteracy, and curb insecurity. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria observed that the lack of tolerance and absence of political pluralism were directly responsible for the wave of military coups in several West African countries.