President Bola Tinubu has rescinded the controversial special promotion of his Aide-de-Camp, Colonel Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf, to Brigadier General. The decision follows intense dissatisfaction within the Nigerian Army regarding promotion procedures and military morale. A military source noted, “The Commander-in-Chief was misled but thank God he did the needful. The armed forces are celebrating Tinubu right now.”
The reversal occurred just as Yusuf prepared for his decoration ceremony, which was subsequently cancelled. High-ranking military figures, including former Chief of Army Staff General Alani Akinrinade, reportedly intervened to highlight how the promotion demoralized eligible officers. One source stated, “Mr President realized he was misadvised by Nuhu Ribadu and quickly disapproved of it,” following an emergency briefing.
Beyond this single rank reversal, the Presidency is now reviewing the entire composition of the President’s security detail. Concerns persist regarding other officials, such as Adegboyega Fasasi and Usman Shugaba, who allegedly hold ranks inconsistent with their positions. Critics argue, “Meanwhile, Mr President needs to remove the Chief Detail (CD)… they have outranked
these positions” to maintain institutional standards.