Political activist and international affairs leader Comrade Timi Frank has issued a stern warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, cautioning that reports of politicisation within the Nigerian Army could seriously undermine democracy and national stability.
Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC and currently ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, expressed deep concern over reports that the President’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC) was promoted from Colonel to Brigadier-General within months—a move he described as unprecedented and dangerous if verified.
“The Nigerian Army is a professional institution, not a personal guard. Senior ranks, especially that of General, are earned through years of service, rigorous training, command experience, and strict adherence to institutional standards. They are not political rewards,” Frank said.
He warned that arbitrary promotions risk demoralising career officers, weakening command structures, and eroding cohesion within the ranks. “History across West Africa shows that politicising military institutions breeds frustration, resentment, and indiscipline—conditions that often precede coups and democratic disruptions,” he added, citing recent events in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Frank stressed that even during Nigeria’s military rule, no Head of State, civilian or military, manipulated high-ranking positions for personal convenience. “No previous President treated the rank of General with such recklessness,” he noted.
Rejecting any defence based on constitutional authority, he argued that being Commander-in-Chief demands restraint, not arbitrariness. “Democracy thrives on accountability, due process, and respect for established norms,” Frank said. He also cautioned that irregular promotions expose officers to professional risk and drag the Armed Forces into political controversy, potentially harming Nigeria’s international reputation.
Frank called on the Minister of Defence to advise the President urgently on the consequences of undermining military traditions. He urged civil society, retired officers, and professional associations to speak out, warning that silence in the face of institutional abuse endangers civil-military relations.
He demanded immediate public clarification on the legal basis for the reported promotion, suspension or reversal of any irregular action, and a commitment from the Presidency to halt personalised promotions.
“Nigeria’s Armed Forces must remain professional and apolitical. Undermining tradition fuels discontent and creates conditions for unconstitutional takeovers. This is a red line Nigeria must never cross,” Frank concluded.