Political activist Comrade Timi Frank has issued a stern warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that the breach of military tradition and hierarchy through special promotions poses a grave threat to Nigeria's democracy and national stability.
Accelerated Promotions Spark Alarm
The warning comes in reaction to reports that President Tinubu's Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Nurudeen Yusuf, has been promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General. This elevation occurred less than a year after he was decorated as a Colonel in January 2025.
Frank, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and now ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, described the reported double promotion within a single year as "deeply troubling and unacceptable" if proven true.
A Dangerous Precedent for Democracy
In a press release made available to the press on Monday, December 15, 2025, Frank argued that the Nigerian Army is a national institution, not a personal guard unit. He emphasized that senior ranks, especially that of General, are earned through years of dedicated service, command experience, and rigorous assessment, not handed out as political rewards.
"Promotions outside established procedures send a dangerous and demoralising signal to career officers who have devoted decades to service under strict institutional discipline," Frank stated.
He insisted that the Armed Forces must remain professional, apolitical, and governed by established rules, warning that undermining military tradition fuels frustration within the ranks.
Lessons from Africa's Recent History
Frank drew a direct line between the politicisation of military institutions and the collapse of democratic rule in other African nations. He cited the examples of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where military juntas emerged in environments where institutions were abused and professionalism was undermined.
"Undermining military tradition... dangerously incentivises coup plotting as a means to truncate democracy. This is a red line Nigeria must never cross," the activist warned.
He noted that even leaders of military regimes in those countries exercised restraint in matters of rank, mindful of the sensitivity of military hierarchy.
The Presidency has defended the promotion, arguing it was necessary to maintain rank parity within the security team at the Presidential Villa. Colonel Yusuf, who is also the traditional ruler designated as the Elemona of Ilemona in Kwara State, was decorated by President Tinubu at a ceremony in Abuja attended by Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRasak.
However, Timi Frank's intervention highlights growing concerns that such actions could weaken a critical national institution at a time when Nigeria's democracy faces multiple challenges.
