The Country Director of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and Retired Army Captain, Ambassador Abdullahi Bokaji Adamu, has said that the recent sack of Nigeria’s service chiefs has sent mixed feelings across the North, as many people in the region are watching closely to see whether the replacements will reflect fairness and balance.
In an exclusive interview on Sunday, Adamu who is also a retired captain described the President’s decision as both political and strategic, noting that while it signals readiness to make tough decisions, it also raises deeper questions about political motives and internal power struggles.
“In my opinion, the recent sack of the security chiefs may have been influenced by several factors. Officially, it could be linked to the government’s desire for improved performance and new strategies to address persistent insecurity,” he said.
“However, behind the scenes, there may also be political undertones or internal power struggles within the system.”
According to him, some Nigerians believe the decision might be connected to a suspected attempted coup or internal realignments within the military hierarchy.
Although such claims remain unconfirmed, he said they reflect the level of mistrust and political complexity surrounding security leadership in the country.
“In Nigeria, politics is deeply rooted in every major decision, including security appointments. It has almost become a tradition that each administration prefers to work with people from its own region or political circle,” he noted.
“Unfortunately, this practice often undermines fairness and merit, as the most qualified or experienced officers are sometimes overlooked in favor of political loyalty or regional interests.”
Ambassador Adamu said while the sack of the service chiefs shows that the President is ready to act decisively, it has created mixed emotions in the North.
“Many in the region are watching closely to see if the replacements will reflect fairness and balance,” he said.
“Fortunately, the new appointments appear regionally balanced, with two out of the four new service chiefs coming from the North. This has helped to reduce tension and suspicion.”
He added that the North is now waiting to see results, not promises.
“The North’s confidence in the federal government will depend largely on results. For years, northern communities have borne the brunt of banditry, insurgency, and kidnappings. People are no longer moved by speeches, they want peace, stability, and safe roads.”
The IHRC Director also noted that Nigerians have long observed that the government reacts quickly only when the elite are affected.
“There have been many occasions when innocent citizens were killed, but no decisive action was taken. Now that the leadership itself has been directly affected, the sack came immediately. This makes people feel that the government only acts fast when the powerful are touched,” he said.
“This perception must change if the government truly wants to earn public trust.”
Ambassador Adamu acknowledged that the former Army Chief and his team did their best under difficult conditions but were limited by systemic problems.
“It’s important to remember that even the Chief of Defence Staff once said that a significant percentage of the security solution lies in the hands of the government, not just the military,” he recalled.
“That statement alone highlights the challenges faced by the security chiefs, limited political will, inadequate funding, and weak inter-agency cooperation.”
The human rights advocate urged the newly appointed service chiefs to adopt a broader and more people-focused strategy.
“The new security chiefs must understand that military force alone cannot end insecurity. They need to combine force with intelligence, dialogue, and community participation,” he advised.
“They should work closely with state governments, traditional rulers, and local vigilantes to build trust and cooperation.”
He, however, warned that true change would take time unless the government supports them with freedom and resources to act effectively.
“As long as Nigeria continues to face indirect forms of political and economic control, our security system will remain limited in effectiveness,” he said.
“Their success will depend on how much support and cooperation they receive from the federal government.”
Ambassador Adamu concluded that while the sack of the security chiefs is commendable, the government must prove that such actions are not driven by politics.
“What the North and indeed all Nigerians want is peace, justice, and inclusion, not favoritism or hidden agendas,” he said.
“If handled with sincerity and fairness, these changes could bring the positive results Nigerians are yearning for. But if politics continues to overshadow merit, the cycle of insecurity will persist.”
Recall that President Bola Tinubu sacked the service chiefs in a sweeping overhaul of the country’s military leadership.
The presidency said on Friday, that it is part of efforts to strengthen national security.
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