‘We Do Not Need Military Adventurism in W/ Africa’

Linus Aleke in  Abuja

Emeritus Professor of Political Science and Research Professor at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, Femi Otubanjo, has warned that West Africa does not need military adventurism as a substitute for democratic governance.

Speaking in a telephone interview with THISDAY, the international relations scholar argued that recurring military interventions in the region are symptoms of deeper governance failures rather than solutions to them.

According to him, coups and military takeovers thrive in environments where political leadership is weak and democratic institutions are deliberately undermined.

Otubanjo noted that the core challenges confronting West African societies are not primarily political but socio-economic.

These include poverty, unemployment, poor infrastructure and declining living standards-problems he believes military rulers are ill-equipped to resolve.

He said: “What are the underlying problems? They centre on bad leadership—leadership that does not allow democracy to function.

“The real issues for the people are welfare-related: the economy, jobs, poverty and basic living conditions. Can military leaders truly solve Africa’s persistent poverty, infrastructural decay and low standards of living?.

The prof lamented the visible hardship faced by ordinary citizens, pointing to scenes of people stranded daily while waiting for transportation, even in cities that pride themselves on development and excellence.

For Otubanjo, these realities underscore the disconnection between governance rhetoric and the lived experiences of the people.

The professor warned that military rulers often begin with populist promises but quickly drift away from the masses once they consolidate power.

“We do not need military adventurers who make bold declarations today, only to retreat into comfort tomorrow. They surround themselves with luxury, armoured vehicles and heavy security, yet deliver little tangible improvement in the lives of citizens,” he said.

Referencing developments in Burkina Faso, Otubanjo questioned the real impact of military rule on the welfare of the people, despite widespread public enthusiasm in some quarters.

While acknowledging that certain military leaders may appear less corrupt than their predecessors, he insisted that the ultimate measure of governance must be whether life has improved for the average citizen.

“Is life truly better for the ordinary Burkinabè?” he asked, saying: “Beyond the hype, what are the real outcomes? There is also the danger that these military regimes could destabilise the entire sub-region.”

Turning to Nigeria’s security challenges, Otubanjo urged the federal government to prioritise addressing internal insecurity.

He argued that recent demonstrations of military capability should be matched with decisive action against banditry and terrorism within the country.

According to him, “Now that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown that the military can act decisively, the same capacity should be deployed to confront bandits operating within Nigeria.

“These criminals move openly on motorcycles in semi-desert areas with little cover. If we can see them, what is preventing their elimination?”

He concluded that Nigeria must first demonstrate the ability to secure its own territory before projecting military power beyond its borders.

According to him, failure to address domestic insecurity would render any external military intervention ineffective and meaningless.

“If we have a military capable of intervening in neighbouring countries, then we should certainly be able to resolve our internal security problems,” Otubanjo added.