Why Tinubu sacked service chiefs — Presidency injects fresh vision

By: Abudu Olalekan

Just last Friday. The corridors of power buzzed. President Bola Tinubu suddenly relieved his top military brass. Service chiefs, everywhere. Folks thought: “Coup?” Many whispered it. But here’s the scoop—no coup. Not even close.

It all started with a brief statement from Tope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant on Media. He said, “Two years of service. Done.” Short. Sharp. Clear. President Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief, has the unquestioned right to hire or fire his generals. Period. That’s in the Constitution. Everyone knows that, right? Yet somehow, news outlets ran wild with rumours of palace intrigue.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, stepped in. He told Reportersroom, “Service chiefs can be hired and fired by the President. He has the power.” He also stressed that it wasn’t about a foiled coup plot. Nope. The change was designed “to inject new direction, vision, vigour and energy” into Nigeria’s Armed Forces.

Let’s pause. Imagine you’re on shift in Abuja, night-duty, sipping cold water, and suddenly your phone lights up. “Chief of Defence Staff gone.” Next message, “Replacement named.” Overnight. It felt like a thriller, complete with suspense music in your head. Except it wasn’t fiction.

Sunday Dare, the Presidential spokesman for Media and Public Communication, released the names:

• General Olufemi Oluyede is the new Chief of Defence Staff (that’s Musa’s old job);
• Major-General W. Shaibu becomes Chief of Army Staff;
• Air Vice-Marshal S.K. Aneke is Chief of Air Staff;
• Rear Admiral I. Abbas now heads the Navy;
• Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye stays on as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

Tinubu’s charge to his new team was simple: justify the trust placed in you. Show professionalism. Stay vigilant. Build comradeship. Step up. The orders took effect immediately. No hand-holding.

But of course, rumours didn’t die. A week earlier, Sahara Reporters published a viral story. Sixteen officers detained. Alleged coup plot. Independence Day parade cancelled. “Proof,” some said, “that whispers were real.” The Defence Headquarters hit back hard. Brig-Gen. Tukur Gusau called the coup tale “false and intended to cause tension and distrust.” He insisted the parade suspension was “purely administrative” and detained officers faced indiscipline probes only.

Still, Nigerians on X (formerly Twitter) pieced things together: “Rumours of coup. Chiefs sacked. Coincidence? I think not.” Ikechukwu Ude wrote, “No civilian with zero capacity can stop generals if they want to topple a government.” Others felt the shake-up signalled how close we came to a coup—or maybe how far. Few believed it’s just routine.

Ajayi pushed back: “We are fighting Boko Haram, bandits in the North-West, IPOB and ESN, kidnapping, other crises… We need fresh energy.” He also noted that for 15 years security took the biggest chunk of the national budget, starving power, roads, broadband, education, healthcare. Tinubu wants to rebalance.

And yes, every appointee—minister, head of agency, service chief—serves at the pleasure of the President. No safeguards. The only folks guaranteed tenure are the President and Vice-President. That’s how it is.

In the end, the overhaul has mixed reactions. Col. Yomi Dare (retd) says it’s a “morale booster.” “They’ve done their bit,” he notes, “now let the new ones learn and improve.” Mike Ejiofor, former DSS Director, warns funding remains the real hurdle. “Chiefs can change, but without released funds and operational must-haves, they’re hamstrung.”

And security analyst Akogun-Abudu Oluwamayowa urges the focus shift to soldiers’ welfare: “Perimeter fencing, well-being, timely pay—that matters more than reshuffles.”

So, was this a simple exercise of constitutional power? Or a careful pivot away from rumoured unrest? Opinions will keep clashing. But for now, President Tinubu has spoken. His generals answered. And Nigeria watches—on edge, hopeful, skeptical.