A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against actions he described as the politicisation of the Nigerian Army, saying abuse of military ranks could endanger democracy and fuel coup tendencies.
Frank raised concerns over reports of an alleged special and accelerated promotion of the president’s Aide-De-Camp to the rank of Brigadier-General barely months after elevation to colonel, describing the development as troubling if proven true.
He said the Nigerian Army is a national institution governed by professional standards and traditions, not a personal guard unit of any president.
His words: “The Nigerian Army is not a personal guard unit of any President. It is a national institution governed by time-tested rules, traditions and professional standards.
“Senior military ranks, especially the rank of General, are earned through years of service, sacrifice, command experience, rigorous training and competitive assessments. They are not political rewards.”
Frank said promotions outside established procedures weaken command authority, erode morale and damage cohesion within the ranks.
He warned that Africa’s recent history shows that the politicisation of military institutions often breeds resentment and indiscipline, conditions that precede unconstitutional disruptions of democratic rule.
“Across West Africa today, we are witnessing the consequences of weakened civil-military relations. From Mali to Burkina Faso and Niger, military juntas emerged in environments where institutions were abused, traditions disregarded and professionalism undermined,” he said.
Frank said it was alien to Nigeria’s democratic practice, and unheard of even during military rule, to manipulate the rank of General for an Aide-De-Camp or personal convenience.
“No former military Head of State and no civilian President in Nigeria treated the rank of General with such recklessness,” he added.
He rejected any justification based on constitutional authority, saying being commander-in-chief demands restraint rather than arbitrariness.
“Being Commander-In-Chief is not a license to erode institutions. Democracy survives on accountability, due process and respect for established norms,” he said.
Frank cautioned that irregular promotions expose officers to professional risk, invite institutional backlash and drag the armed forces into political controversy.
He urged the minister of defence to advise the president on the implications of any decision that undermines military tradition, morale and Nigeria’s international standing.
He also called for immediate public clarification of the legal and professional basis for the reported promotion, suspension or reversal of any action that violates Nigerian Army guidelines, and a firm commitment by the presidency to end personalised promotions.
Frank urged civil society organisations, retired military officers and professional associations to speak out, warning that silence in the face of institutional abuse could have severe consequences for civil-military relations.
He said the Nigerian Armed Forces must remain professional, apolitical and governed by established rules rather than personal discretion.
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