AfriPulse
‘Tinubu’s rapid service turnover evidence of hands-on experience’
Nigerians have tasked the new service chiefs to crush terrorism once and for all to let citizens have a rest of mind and justify the confidence President Bola Tinubu reposed in them.
Tinubu, last Friday, made sweeping changes in the leadership of Nigeria’s Armed Forces to strengthen the country’s security architecture and consolidate command and professionalism within the military.
The change of guards at the higher echelon of the nation’s Armed Forces, which was announced in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, was the second time in 29 months that the President had to tinker with the apex security management cadre.
No sooner had the names of the new service chiefs been made public than Nigerians expressed mixed sentiments, with many calling on the newly elevated officers to deliver a decisive blow to all elements challenging the country’s security and stability.
Part of the worry of stakeholders was about the pattern of leadership changes within the military’s high command, especially as sharp variations were noted under Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari and Tinubu, each reflecting a distinct philosophy towards security management, institutional stability and command renewal.
President Tinubu’s latest reshuffle is said to have been driven by several factors, even as it came amid heightened speculation of discontent within the ranks and a renewed “coup scare” that dominated public discourse in recent months.
However, despite the rapidity of the changes, a cross-section of Nigerians agreed that whatever was necessary should be done to ensure that citizens can sleep in peace and pursue their businesses without fear of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and sundry crimes.
A media trainer and journalist, Alli Hakeem, stated: “What I want from the incoming service chiefs is not anything different from what Nigerians expected from the old service chiefs — the crushing of terrorism and all forms of insecurity.”
That is the expectation of all Nigerians.
“I expect the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and other service chiefs to, as quickly as possible, crash insecurity to the barest minimum. Insecurity began a long time ago, but peaked around 2009. Since then, it has been one problem or another; everybody is exasperated now. So what Nigerians want is a quick end to insecurity.”
While accusing some politicians of working against the outgone service chiefs, when it was clear that they were doing everything possible to tackle the security challenges in the country, he noted: “The political people wanted a kinetic and non-kinetic approach, which was what the former CDS, Gen Christopher Musa, was advocating from the outset. Now, it is like the group that wanted non-kinetic political considerations to weigh in has won over the Musa camp.”
He identified terrorism financing as a problem known to the military, adding that although the military knew the financiers in Nigeria, “because of political exigencies, they cannot be brought into the open and prosecuted.”
However, Abubakar Sadeeq, a forensic security expert, remarked that the new service chiefs should be provided with the right platforms, including drones, to enable them to effectively tackle the security challenges, as well as welfare packages for troops to boost their morale.
A civil servant, Mike Sule, said the incoming service chiefs must deliver in tackling all forms of criminality, so that Nigerians from all walks of life could sleep well and go about their lawful businesses without fear of intimidation or being killed.
While previous presidents tended to retain military chiefs for extended periods, Tinubu’s frequent recalibration of the top defence hierarchy signals a hands-on, performance-driven approach to national security — one that prizes adaptability and measurable results.
For instance, under Goodluck Jonathan (April 2010 to May 2015), the first major overhaul came in September 2010, when he replaced the Chiefs of Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force. Another reshuffle followed in October 2012, and a third in January 2014, which brought in Lt-Gen Kenneth Minimah (COAS), Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (CAS), and Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin (CNS). In all, Jonathan effected three full-scale changes in five years — roughly one every 20 months — largely in response to the escalating Boko Haram insurgency and shifting political dynamics ahead of the 2015 elections.
Within 45 days of assuming office, Buhari dismissed the entire military high command and appointed Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin (CDS), Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai (COAS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (CNS), and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (CAS). That team remained in place for over five years until a new set was appointed in January 2021, led by Gen. Lucky Irabor (CDS) and Maj-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru (COAS), who was later succeeded by Maj-Gen Farouk Yahaya, following his death.
Across eight years, Buhari conducted two full reshuffles, averaging one every four years — the slowest pace among the three presidents. His reluctance to change chiefs amid worsening insecurity drew persistent criticism from Nigerians for perceived inertia.
Barely a month into office, Tinubu executed a sweeping military overhaul on June 19, 2023, appointing Gen. Christopher Musa (CDS), Lt-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja (COAS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (CNS), and Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar (CAS), alongside new heads of the police and intelligence agencies.
Lagbaja served as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and died in office on November 5, 2024. He was succeeded by Lt-Gen Olufemi Oluyede.
In a fresh move on Friday, October 24, 2025, Tinubu again reconstituted the top brass, redeploying Oluyede as CDS, Maj-Gen Waidi Shaibu (COAS), AVM Sunday Kelvin Aneke (CAS), and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (CNS), while retaining Maj-Gen Emmanuel Undiandeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI).
Thus, in just 29 months, Tinubu has undertaken two full-scale reshuffles — on average, one every 14 to 15 months — the fastest tempo of military leadership change in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
Meanwhile, presidential aides have described Tinubu’s latest exercise as a “routine recalibration,” underscoring his preference for administrative agility.
Analysts, however, interpret it as part of a broader doctrine — sustaining operational momentum, renewing command energy, and tightening cohesion across the services.
Unlike Buhari, whose long-serving chiefs were often faulted for stagnation, Tinubu’s model is said to project decisiveness and responsiveness. Yet, information gleaned from many retired security officials indicates that frequent reshuffles can also disrupt command continuity and require time for realignment and trust-building within the ranks.
Observers note that the contrasting tempos reflect each president’s leadership temperament: Jonathan’s reshuffles were reactive, spurred by crisis and political shifts; Buhari’s approach was conservative, valuing continuity and loyalty; while Tinubu’s, according to many, is interventionist, performance-oriented, optics-aware (meaning he pays close attention to public perception and how citizens, the press, and political actors interpret his moves), and strategically agile.
The pattern mirrors his governance style — hands-on, centralised and constantly recalibrating. Each reshuffle signals readiness to act and a political instinct to reset before complacency takes hold.
Tinubu’s swift reshuffles project urgency and control — traits often applauded in uncertain times. The real test, however, lies in whether this fast-paced turnover enhances operational effectiveness or inadvertently fragments it.
Notwithstanding the developments, the verdict is clear: in the calculus of command, Tinubu has rewritten the tempo — fast, firm, and unrelenting.
Source: Guardian Nigeria | Read the Full Story…
