The Country Director of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and retired Army Captain, Ambassador Abdullahi Bokaji Adamu, says the recent dismissal of Nigeria’s service chiefs has generated mixed feelings across the North, as people in the region await to see whether the new appointments will reflect fairness and regional balance.
In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Sunday, Adamu described the President’s move as both political and strategic. He noted that while the decision demonstrates a willingness to take tough actions, it also raises deeper questions about political motives and internal power dynamics.
“In my view, the removal of the security chiefs may have been driven by multiple factors. Officially, it could be the government’s attempt to improve performance and adopt new strategies against insecurity,” Adamu said.
“However, behind the scenes, there might also be political considerations or internal power struggles within the system.”
He added that some Nigerians believe the shake-up might be linked to alleged coup plots or internal realignments within the military, though such claims remain unverified. According to him, these speculations reflect the mistrust and political complexities surrounding security leadership in Nigeria.
“Politics influences almost every major decision in Nigeria, including security appointments. It has become common for each administration to prefer working with individuals from its region or political circle,” he explained.
“Sadly, this practice often undermines fairness and merit, as competent officers are sometimes overlooked for reasons of loyalty or regional bias.”
Adamu said while the President’s decision shows readiness to act decisively, it has triggered mixed emotions in the North.
“People in the North are watching closely to see if the new appointments will reflect fairness and balance,” he said.
“Fortunately, the current appointments appear regionally balanced, with two of the four new service chiefs coming from the North. This has helped ease initial tensions.”
He stressed, however, that northern communities now expect tangible results, not political assurances.
“The North’s trust in the federal government will depend on visible results. For years, our people have suffered from banditry, insurgency, and kidnappings. They are no longer swayed by promises — they want peace, stability, and safe roads.”
Adamu also criticised the government’s tendency to act swiftly only when the elite are affected.
“We’ve seen many cases where innocent citizens were killed without prompt government action. But now that the leadership has been directly affected, a major decision came quickly. This makes people feel the government only responds fast when the powerful are involved,” he said.
“This perception must change if the government wants to rebuild public trust.”
The IHRC Director acknowledged that the former service chiefs performed under challenging conditions but were limited by systemic constraints.
“Even the former Chief of Defence Staff once admitted that much of the solution to Nigeria’s insecurity lies in the hands of the government, not just the military,” he recalled.
“That statement highlights challenges such as weak political will, poor funding, and inadequate inter-agency collaboration.”
Adamu advised the newly appointed service chiefs to embrace a people-oriented approach.
“The new chiefs must realize that military force alone cannot end insecurity. They need to combine it with intelligence gathering, dialogue, and community participation,” he said.
“They should partner with state governments, traditional rulers, and local vigilantes to build trust and cooperation.”
He, however, cautioned that meaningful progress would depend on how much freedom and support the government gives them.
“As long as political and economic interference persists, the effectiveness of our security system will remain limited,” he warned.
“Their success will hinge on how much cooperation they receive from the federal government.”
Concluding, Adamu said while the President’s decision is commendable, it must be seen as a genuine reform, not a political maneuver.
“What Nigerians — North and South alike — desire is peace, justice, and inclusion, not favoritism or hidden agendas,” he said.
“If handled with fairness and sincerity, this change could yield the positive results the country needs. But if politics continues to overshadow merit, insecurity will remain.”
President Bola Tinubu had last week dismissed Nigeria’s service chiefs in a major shake-up of the military leadership, a move the presidency said was aimed at strengthening national security.
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