Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has said that the high level of poverty in Africa is responsible for the wave of coups in the continent.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria stated this at a Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) national symposium held in Abuja, under the theme: “Nigerian Economy and the Crisis of Survival, Robbing the Poor to Pay the Rich”.

Falana stressed that despite the poverty in the country, the National Assembly allocated billions to itself.

He subsequently cautioned Nigerian governments against taking the citizens for granted.

His comment comes on the heels of recent coups in Africa. The latest in Gabon where soldiers seized power, ending decades of the Bongo dynasty’s reign.

In his own remarks at the event, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, spoke on the unworkability of government measures to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.