The Senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to further reorganise the nation’s security leadership by appointing a retired military officer as the National Security Adviser, NSA.
Senator Fadahunsi advised the President to redeploy the current NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to another area of national service where his expertise would be better utilised.
He said such a step would strengthen security coordination across the country.
The lawmaker made the appeal in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Segun-Progress, and obtained by DAILY POST on Osogbo on Tuesday.
This call followed his earlier call for a comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s military architecture.
He said, “The Minister of State, Defence is not a soldier or a retired general. The NSA is a retired policeman.”
He added, “Do you know that these soldiers call us even those carrying superior guns than theirs ‘bloody civilians?’ And that is what is affecting us.”
The Senator argued that only officers with military backgrounds could command the necessary respect within the armed forces.
“The Commander-in-Chief needs to look at the military architecture around him and do the needful. If not, we will continue to waste money because they will not take orders from any other person other than their own general,” he said.
Reacting to the resignation of former Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, and the nomination of ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Chris Musa (retd.), as Defence Minister-designate, Fadahunsi welcomed the development.
He, however, urged the President to take what he described as the final step in strengthening the defence structure and maintained that redeploying Ribadu would ensure his skills were applied where they were most effective
He said, “The current National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, should be replaced with a retired military officer for a more efficient coordination of the fight against bandits and other violent criminals.
“The current NSA should be moved to his area of core competence, where his skill can be better put to use,” he added.
He noted that those currently leading the security apparatus had made commendable efforts but stressed the need for a new approach.
“Those in charge of the defence architecture of the country have done their best, but it is necessary at this point to allow people with military backgrounds to come into the system and run with the President’s vision,” he said.
The Senator reaffirmed his belief that restructuring the security leadership would boost operational efficiency and enhance national stability.
He urged President Tinubu to prioritise reforms that would ensure unity and discipline within the nation’s military command system.