The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged President Bola Tinubu to tell Nigerians the reason for what it called a “sudden and surprising overhaul” of the nation’s military leadership.
The ADC made the call, following Tinubu’s firing of the service chiefs he appointed two years ago.
In a statement issued by Bolaji Abdullahi, its National Publicity Secretary, the opposition party expressed concern that the reshuffle came soon after widespread rumours of an attempted coup in the country.
Abdullahi said although the President has the constitutional right to make changes in the military hierarchy, the timing of this decision raises serious questions. He added that the government’s reaction to the coup rumours lacked clarity and created confusion among Nigerians.
According to the ADC, many of the dismissed officers had barely served three years in office, with the now-removed Chief of Defence Staff only promoted last year. The party warned that such a sweeping change could unsettle the military and threaten internal stability.
The statement further stressed that the government owes the public a full and transparent account of what truly prompted the decision. It accused the Tinubu administration of being distracted from critical national security challenges, pointing out that insurgency and banditry continue to spread across the country.
The ADC said the wholesale replacement of military heads could fuel more suspicion and conspiracy theories among citizens. It therefore called on the government to act transparently and assure the public that Nigeria’s democracy remains stable and secure.
“As an opposition party, our concern is the peace and stability of Nigeria,” the ADC said, warning that the situation in neighbouring Chad and other Sahel countries should serve as a reminder of the dangers of political distraction in times of insecurity.
