Political activist and international affairs leader, Comrade Timi Frank, has issued a strong warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that actions which politicise the Nigerian Army pose a severe threat to the nation's democracy and stability.
A Stern Warning on Military Tradition
Frank, who is a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), reacted to reports of a special and accelerated promotion for President Tinubu's Aide-de-Camp (ADC). The officer was reportedly elevated to the rank of Brigadier-General barely months after becoming a Colonel.
He described these reports, if true, as deeply troubling and unacceptable. "The Nigerian Army is not a personal guard unit of any President," Frank stated. He emphasised that the institution is governed by time-tested rules, traditions, and professional standards.
"Senior military ranks, especially the rank of General, are earned through years of service, sacrifice, command experience, rigorous training and competitive assessments. They are not political rewards," he asserted.
The Dangerous Precedent and Regional Consequences
Frank stressed that promotions outside established procedures send a demoralising signal to career officers and damage cohesion within the ranks. He linked such actions to a dangerous pattern seen across West Africa.
"Across West Africa today, we are witnessing the consequences of weakened civil-military relations," he said. "From Mali to Burkina Faso and Niger, military juntas emerged in environments where institutions were abused, traditions disregarded and professionalism undermined."
He noted that even leaders of military regimes in those countries showed restraint in matters of rank, aware of the sensitivity of military hierarchy. Frank insisted that manipulating the rank of General for aides-de-camp is alien to Nigeria's democratic practice and was unheard of even during periods of military rule.
An Urgent Call for Accountability and Action
Frank rejected any justification based on the President's constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief, insisting that the role demands restraint, not arbitrariness. "Being Commander-In-Chief is not a license to erode institutions," he declared.
He outlined immediate steps that must be taken:
- An urgent public clarification of the legal and professional basis for the reported promotion.
- Suspension or reversal of any action violating Nigerian Army guidelines.
- A firm commitment from the Presidency to end personalised promotions and the abuse of military ranks.
Frank also called on civil society organisations, retired military officers, and professional associations to speak out against this institutional abuse. He issued a final, grave warning: "Undermining military tradition fuels frustration within the ranks and file and dangerously incentivises coup plotting as a means to truncate democracy. This is a red line Nigeria must never cross."
The activist made these statements on 14 December 2025, urging the Minister of Defence to advise the President on the far-reaching implications of any decision that weakens military tradition and Nigeria's international standing.
