Reactions as Senator asks President Tinubu to remove Nuhu Ribadu as NSA
Reactions as Senator asks President Tinubu to remove Nuhu Ribadu as NSA
A security advocate, Mr Henry Bassey, has faulted a call by Sen. Francis Fadahunsi (PDP Osun) urging President Bola Tinubu to replace the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, with a retired military officer.
Fadahunsi, in a statement issued earlier in the week, urged the president to appoint a former military officer as NSA and redeploy Ribadu “to another area of national service.”
Reacting on Saturday, Bassey, a former Lagos State Chairman of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices, described the senator’s position as “narrow, outdated and inconsistent with global best practices.”
He said modern national security required a blend of intelligence, diplomacy, socio-political expertise and inter-agency coordination, not an exclusive focus on military background.
“National security today includes physical, economic, political, cyber, environmental and social dimensions.
“Military force is only one contributor, not the essence of security leadership,” he said.
Bassey argued that global democracies, including the United States, routinely appoint civilians and policy experts as national security advisers, citing examples such as Jake Sullivan and other non-military appointees.
He also noted that Nigeria itself had a history of non-military NSAs, including former Inspectors-General of Police Gambo Jimeta and Aliyu Isma’ila Gwarzo, whose performances he described as “outstanding.”
According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges are largely internal and require an NSA with deep experience in intelligence, law enforcement, inter-agency synergy and an understanding of the root causes of conflict.
He said Ribadu had brought “decades of experience in intelligence, anti-corruption enforcement, and counter-terrorism strategy,” making him “a square peg in a square hole.”
“The NSA is not a combatant role. It requires intellect, integrity, strategic thinking and an ability to coordinate civilian and military structures,” he added.
Bassey warned that insisting only military officers should head the Office of the NSA risked promoting “a dangerous and undemocratic idea”.
He said it could also weaken the professionalism of the armed forces, which he said had evolved to respect constitutional authority regardless of background.
He urged leaders to avoid politicising national security appointments and instead support ongoing reforms in intelligence coordination, operational synergy and community-level conflict prevention.
“President Tinubu is on the right track with Ribadu’s appointment. The results so far only need to be sustained, not disrupted by outdated arguments,” he said. (NAN)
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JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, declaring that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, will be heading the council for a period of 2 years.
The declaration follows the passing of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025, by the state House of Assembly, and the signing of the same into law by the governor.
Recall that the lawmakers had amended Clause 5 of Section 28 of the Chieftaincy Law to make the Council chairmanship rotational among the Alaafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomoso, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
While inaugurating the Council, Governor Makinde said he had consulted with the trio of the Alaafin, the Olubadan and the Soun, with the three of them reaching a consensus that the chairmanship should start with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
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NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
The Inspector General of Police (I-GP), Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has assured that the police remained committed to community policing to ensure that criminals were drastically reduced in the country.
The I-GP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector of Police ( AIG) Zone 17, Dr Ajani Musibau, stated this at the Police Community Relations Committee ( PCRC) National Leadership Training and Conference on Thursday in Akure.
The theme of the conference is: “Inclusivity and Diversity: the New Leadership Paradigm.”
He said that security could not be achieved by only the police, but with the support from the community.
The I-GP stated that security was a joint work and responsibility of all, commending the current leadership of the Nigeria Police for a paradigm shift towards modern policing.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Adebowale Lawal, said that bandits could not infiltrate the state due to community policing strategy embraced by the command.
He explained that bandits would have infiltrated the state through Kogi and Edo, but intelligence reports from members of PCRC had been a great help to the police command.
According to him, the support and logistics received from the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun and Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa had also motivated police personnel to work earnestly.
He said that effective community policing was a sure way to curb activities of criminals, and implored members of the public not to relent in their efforts to provide police and other security agencies with useful information.
Lawal also commended other conventional security agencies, forest guards and vigilantes for their support to the police in fighting bandits
In his remarks, the National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Ibrahim Mogaji said that the conference was to strengthen leaders of PCRC in the South-West zone and encourage them to redouble their efforts and support in fighting crimes.
According to Mogaji, the occasion also enabled the association to appreciate Gov. Aiyedatiwa, I-GP, the AIG Zone 17 and the state Commissioner of Police.
He advised the participants to moblise other members of PCRC and orientate them on their roles to continue to fight crime in the country.
The PCRC national chairman asked Nigerians to respect the dignity of police and to be civil when interacting with them.
Mogaji said that the leadership training would be replicated in other geo-political zones of the country.
Also, Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Security, Mr Gbenga Atiba, commended the PCRC , AIG Zone 17, and the Commissioner of Police for their unrelenting efforts to guarantee peace across the state.
Aiyedatiwa promised that the state government would give PCRC attention and continue to support police and other security agencies with appropriate logistics that would make policing more effective.
A guest lecturer, Comrade Yinka Folarin asked members of the public to give respect and dignity to members of the police, saying that they also had rights that must be respected.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PCRC honoured Gov. Aiyedatiwa, AIG Zone 17 and the Commissioner of Police with awards. (NAN)
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Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for improved welfare packages for armed forces personnel and all members of the security and intelligence community to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.
National Chairman of PDP, Tanimu Turaki, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Thursday to mark the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
Turaki also urged the Federal Government to adequately fund security agencies to effectively neutralise those he described as agents of insecurity, and restore peace to the country.
He expressed PDP’s condolences to the families of members of the armed forces who died in active service while executing their mandate of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“On a day like this, we acknowledge that they paid the supreme price for the continuous existence of our country.
“We advise all actors, whether state or non-state, not to engage in actions capable of destabilising the country.
“In honour of those who have died to keep our country safe, we pray that their deaths may not be in vain and their labours not forgotten,” Turaki said.(NAN)
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