Dele Momodu Reveals How He Almost Got Caught in Benin Republic Coup
The presidential flagbearer of the National Conscience Party (NCP), in 2011, Dele Momodu, has revealed how he and his entourage narrowly avoided being caught up in Sunday’s coup attempt in the Benin Republic.
The veteran journalist disclosed that a missing car document forced a last-minute change in their travel plans, prompting them to fly to Accra instead of driving through Benin, just hours before soldiers announced they had ousted President Patrice Talon.
A group of military officers, calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), appeared on Benin national television on Sunday morning claiming to have removed President Talon from office.
The soldiers also suspended all political parties and announced the closure of land, sea, and air borders.
Reacting to the news via a post on his official X account, Momodu said he and his entourage would have been caught in Benin Republic’s coup if not for a missing document.
“OUR GOD DID THIS FOR US… My friend ROTIMI OBEY, the second son of legendary musician, CHIEF COMMANDER EBENEZER OBEY and I were to head out to Accra, Ghana, by road, this morning. All was set and ROTIMI went to bed early so that we can set out at 5am. But something went wrong,” he said.
“Before going to bed, I asked my driver for the originals of my car documents. He said he had only the copies with him. I searched the Home Office in Victoria Island but I couldn’t find it. So, I went to the Penthouse in Ikoyi to check my other office. Still no luck. So, I called ROTIMI at 10:38 PM to give him the decision to fly instead of driving. He agreed.
“Meanwhile, my Beninese friend and mentee, ALEX DALMEIDA, was already in town waiting to accompany us through the French-speaking borders. So I called him at 23:02 last night to abort our road trip.
“I called PRECIOUS, my travel consultant, to check available flights. She got us tickets at 11:15PM. It was at the airport we received the news of the coup in Benin Republic… We barely missed it by the whiskers…”
Speaking further, Momodu expressed surprise at the coup attempt, saying, “Benin is one of West Africa’s most peaceful countries. The Benin’s President changed the constitution just last month to allow him extend his presidential term, this morning the military has overthrown him.”
Despite the coup attempt, President Talon’s office confirmed that he is safe and that the army is gradually regaining control.
The 67-year-old former businessman, known as the “cotton king of Cotonou,” is due to hand over power in April next year after a decade in office marked by solid economic growth but also rising jihadist violence.
Benin’s attempted coup comes amid a wave of military takeovers in West Africa in recent years, including in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
