In a sharp address, Timi Frank, a respected political analyst and former All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesperson, has issued a clear caution to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding alleged actions that he labeled as the politicization of the Nigerian Army.
Frank delivered a stern warning, asserting that any form of abuse of military ranks holds the potential to undermine democracy and national stability in Nigeria.
The analyst specifically voiced concern over recent reports suggesting an alleged accelerated promotion of the President’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the lofty rank of Brigadier-General shortly after the officer had been promoted to Colonel. His reaction comes in the wake of claims that the president recently promoted Colonel Nurudeen Yusuf, his Aide-de-Camp, to the rank of Brigadier General.
In a statement issued on Monday, the 15th of December, 2025, Frank emphasized that if this development were confirmed, it would represent a serious breach of military tradition and professional standards.
He stressed the non-partisan nature of the armed forces: “The Nigerian Army is not a personal guard of any president but a national institution governed by long-established rules and hierarchy.” Frank further elaborated that senior military ranks are earned through years of service, sacrifice, training, and command experience, not political favor.
Frank posited that promotions executed outside laid-down procedures pose a significant risk of demoralizing career officers, weakening command authority, and eroding discipline within the armed forces.
The political analyst reminded the President that the politicization of the military is historically a catalyst for resentment and instability across Africa, pointing to recent coups in parts of West Africa as examples of the consequences of weakened civil-military relations.
READ ALSO: Timi Frank to Tinubu: Suspend Wike Now or Nigeria Becomes a Laughing Stock
He recalled that even during military rule in Nigeria, the rank of general was treated with caution and respect, underlining that the assigning or manipulating such ranks for personal or political reasons is alien to Nigeria’s democratic and military traditions.
While acknowledging the President’s constitutional position as commander-in-chief, Frank was quick to argue that this constitutional authority must be exercised with restraint and respect for institutions. He stated definitively: “Being Commander-in-Chief is not a license to erode due process or professional norms.”
In a final, critical warning, Frank concluded: “Nigeria’s democracy cannot afford further weakening of its institutions,” cautioning that the act of undermining military tradition could dangerously incentivize coup plotting.